Monster Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
3.7 out of 5, (20 ratings on Open Library)
Monster has 12 chapters · 281 pages
While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.
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Inside the journal: 12 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Chapter by chapter Each question is about its own chapter.
Steve describes jail and begins writing his story like a movie. What do these details help you understand about how he is feeling?See all 12 questions ↓
About the book
While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.
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Monster questions by chapter
We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 12 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
Steve describes jail and begins writing his story like a movie. What do these details help you understand about how he is feeling?
Example answer: I think Steve feels scared and alone in jail. The way he writes it like a movie makes it seem like he is trying to step outside of his own life because it is too hard to face. I can tell he is confused and worried about what will happen to him. His writing helps me understand that he is still a kid dealing with something very serious.
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Chapter 2
Why do you think Walter Dean Myers uses both a screenplay and journal entries to tell Steve's story? How does this style change the way you read the book?
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Chapter 3
The lawyers tell different stories about Steve and the crime. What details make it hard for the reader to know what really happened?
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Chapter 4
When Steve remembers his family, school, or life before jail, what kind of person do you think he is? Use details from the chapter to explain.
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Chapter 5
The word monster is very important in this book. What does this word mean to Steve, and how does it affect the way he sees himself?
Example answer: To me, the word monster makes Steve feel like people already think he is a bad person. It hurts him because he does not want to be seen only as someone accused of a crime. I think he starts wondering if other people can still see the real him. The word is powerful because it changes how Steve thinks about himself.
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Chapter 6
Several witnesses share what they saw or heard. How can a reader decide which witnesses seem honest or trustworthy?
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Chapter 7
Based on what has happened so far in the trial, what do you predict Steve will need to do if he wants the jury to understand him?
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Chapter 8
How are Steve Harmon and James King similar or different? What do their words and actions show about their characters?
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Chapter 9
What does this part of the book suggest about choices and consequences? Explain using an event from the chapter.
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Chapter 10
Do you think writing his story as a movie helps Steve deal with fear? Why or why not?
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Chapter 11
Near the end of the trial, Steve has to think about how other people see him. What lesson might he be learning about identity and reputation?
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Chapter 12
How does the ending make you think about innocence, guilt, and who Steve really is? Explain your reaction in a few sentences.
Example answer: I felt that the ending was not completely simple or happy. It made me think that being found not guilty does not mean Steve's life goes back to normal right away. I think Steve is still trying to understand who he is and how others see him. My reaction is that the book wants readers to keep thinking instead of giving an easy answer.
More ready-made journals
How to use this Monster reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 12 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Monster. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Each question is about its own chapter. We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.