Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Myers' award-winning 1999 novel was a bold experiment in form, telling portions of the story in, among other things, a screenplay. African American teen Steve Harmon is a burgeoning filmmaker, and his interest in cinema shapes his account of being on trial for his role in a robbery that resulted in murder. Steve's story would be dramatic in any format, but this graphic adaptation is particularly well suited to the tale. Told as a trial with flashbacks to the robbery and moments in the lives of those affected, Sims' adaptation, aided by Anyabwile's ingenious black-and-white comic-book-style sequential art, perfectly captures the natural suspense of a courtroom drama. Using panels like a filmstrip, Sims and Anyabwile achieve several remarkably cinematic effects: alternating grids and splash pages captures the tension between close-up and long shots; the use of jittery lettering and uneven word balloons injects deeper anxiety into the sound design ; having a jury view the events recounted in testimony as a movie audience creates incisive visual metaphors. Though this graphic adaptation requires close and focused attention to unpack at times, the superbly rewarding format serves to powerfully emphasize Myers' themes of perspective and the quest to see one's self clearly. A must-have for public and school libraries, and a standout graphic novel.--Karp, Jesse Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Mixed up in a heist that turned lethal, teenager Steve Harmon is on trial for murder and robbery. An amateur filmmaker, Steve imagines his ordeal as a movie starring himself as a "monster," since that's what those accused of the crime are labeled. Myers's portrayal of thorny moral issues as well as Steve's complicated emotions led to a number of awards for the novel on which Sims's graphic novel adaptation is based. Anyabwile's gray-scale drawings add layers to the drama. Older teens and adults; great for reluctant -readers. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-This is the story of a teenager named Steve Harmon who is on trial for murder and robbery, but it is not clear if he's guilty or not (in part because we see the story through his eyes, and he is reluctant to admit the full truth). Steve is interested in film, and so much of the story is told in a screenplay format. The screenplay idea worked well as a novel in the source material, and the format was noticeable enough that it jumped off the page and readers could clearly understand what was going on in Myers's Printz-winning Monster (HarperCollins, 1999). But this graphic novel adaptation is clunkier in its attempts to use this same format. Steve shares that he wants to make this story into a movie, and then readers are presented with traditional words and images often depicted in comics, which may confuse teens about whether they are seeing the movie idea or just the graphic novel format. Anyabwile's black-and-white artwork will give this tale added visual appeal, as the scenes portray the action takes place from different characters' points of view, as well as close-ups of conflicted emotional expressions. VERDICT This graphic novel adaptation will introduce this story to a new generation of fans, but unfortunately it does not maintain the strength or the style of the original novel.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A graphic novel adaptation of Myers's Printz-winning classic about sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon's murder trial following a botched robbery. Sims's dialogue-heavy text (some of it printed very small) ably distills Myers's plot; the visualizing-his-life-as-a-movie aspect can be confusing without familiarity with Myers's original. Anyabwile's panel illustrations do an excellent job capturing Steve's fractured identity (and his culpability) and heightening suspense about the trial's outcome. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A faithfully adapted graphic-novel retelling of the first Printz Award winner. If ever a novel lent itself to a graphic adaptation, it is Monster (1999). Written in a screenplay format interspersed with first-person journal entries, it practically adapts itself into a visual presentation. Fortunately Sims and Anyabwile are smart enough not to mess with a good thing, and they stick closely to the original to tell the story of New York teenager Steve Harmon's trial for felony murder. Myers' admirers will be pleased to see much of the original dialogue and narration preserved, though neatly edited in places to keep the pace brisk. Meanwhile, Anyabwile's black-and-white illustrations do more than simply interpret the original's camera directions and descriptions. They also add subtle layers to the courtroom accounts and journal entries, all while maintaining the narrative suspense and ambiguity that's made this story linger with a generation of readers. It's not any clearer in this version what role Steve truly might have played in the crime. Black gutters between panels and heavy shading create an appropriately oppressive atmosphere. Though the overall effect can be muddy, it generally suits the darkness of the story and the bold lines of Anyabwile's figures. It's not easy for an adaptation to please both old and new readers, but this respectful one pulls off that trick. (Graphic adaptation. 13 up) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
