Monster
by Walter Dean Myers
- Lexile
- 670L
- Grade range
- Grades 8–11
- Age range
- Ages 13–17
- Pages
- 281
- First published
- 1999
- Genre
- Young Adult Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780064407311
About this book
Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon is on trial for felony murder in New York City; he narrates his experience in alternating screenplay and diary form from the Manhattan Detention Complex. Myers's Printz-winning novel is assigned widely in urban high school English units on criminal justice and narrative form.
Themes
- criminal justice
- race and adolescence
- identity and reputation
- narrative reliability
- incarceration
Content notes
- murder (central, reported)
- incarceration
- violence in prison
Common Sense Media recommends age 13+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 8th grade · Illinoissource: Illinois Learning Standards grade 8 aligned reading
- recommended· 9th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 9-10 exemplar
- recommended· 9th grade · New Yorksource: NY Next Gen Learning Standards grade 9 aligned reading
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Monster?
- Monster is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 8–11, with a Lexile measure of 670L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of Monster?
- Monster has a Lexile measure of 670L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign Monster?
- Monster appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Monster banned in schools?
- Monster has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 2 states (TX, FL) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does Monster explore?
- Central themes in Monster include criminal justice, race and adolescence, identity and reputation, narrative reliability, incarceration. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.