From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 16:13:39 -0500

Megan asked: "What are your thoughts on Monster--on the form, the content, or the ways these interweave in Myers's story?"

When I first read "Monster" I never questioned Steve as a reliable narrator. I assumed that everything he told us (or showed us as a filmmaker/scriptwriter) was true and thus, I believed him to be completely innocent ? a kid who ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was surprised in discussing the book with other adult readers that many of them thought he was an unreliable narrator and believed he had had a part in the crime.

I keep coming back to wondering why Myers chose to write the story in this way, as the script to a movie. Was it so that different readers would come to different conclusions? Any responses?


Kathleen T. Horning (horning at ccbc.education.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center University of Wisconsin-School of Education 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706 608&3930 FAX: 608&2I33
Received on Fri 16 Jul 1999 04:13:39 PM CDT