The Beast- Walter Dean Meyers

Walter Dean Meyers is known for his books that cater to young African Americans and most reluctant readers.  He writes in many different formats, from plays to novels written in letter format.  I have seen a lot of my students reading his books, especially Monster.  Monster is a book written like a collection of letters from and to a young man spending time in prison.  The Beast is the book that I read by this author, and I enjoyed it.  It was easy to read, although I found the content to be a little bit much for middle schoolers.  Most middle schoolers could probably keep up with the format and writing style, but the story deals with young love that is threatened by a heroin addiction.  A young man gets sent off to a private boarding school from a neighborhood that is mostly lower socioeconomic class.  He has to deal with staying true to his neighborhood, find his way in a predominiately rich student school, and stay in touch with his artistic girlfriend back home.  Then he comes home and finds her addicted to heroin, her younger brother hanging out with gangbangers, her mother on her death bed and her blind grandfather struggling to help out.  This book is probably questionable for young students becuase of its drug references and mild sex scenes, but it would be perfect for eighth grade and up.