Let me start by saying this: Monster isn't your typical YA novel. From the moment I pressed play on the audiobook (yes, I experienced it in full cast audio glory), I was immediately drawn into Steve Harmon's terrifying reality - a 16-year-old aspiring filmmaker on trial for felony murder.

The screenplay format threw me at first - I kept waiting for traditional narration. But within minutes, the genius of this choice became clear. Those camera directions ('Fade in', 'Close up') made me visualize every scene like I was watching a movie. The journal entries between court scenes? Heart-wrenching windows into Steve's soul.

Here's what blew me away: The ambiguity about Steve's guilt. Even after finishing, I found myself replaying key scenes (easy to do with audiobook chapters). Was he really the lookout? Or just a kid caught up by bad associations? Myers masterfully keeps you guessing until the very end.

The full cast performance deserves its Earphones Award. When the prosecutor speaks, you feel her contempt. When Steve's voice cracks describing prison life ('They take your shoelaces...'), your stomach drops. There were moments I swore I heard actual jail noises - that's how immersive this production is.

Fair warning: The disjointed start mirrors Steve's confusion, but stick with it. By the trial's midway point, you'll be glued to your headphones/paperback. That opening line about crying at night still haunts me weeks later.

Perfect for: Book clubs (so much to debate!), classrooms exploring social justice, or anyone who enjoys legal dramas with depth. Not ideal if you prefer clear-cut endings - this one lingers in your mind like an unsolved case file.

My only critique? I wanted more journal entries to connect deeper with Steve pre-trial. But maybe that's the point - we're meant to judge him as jurors would: based solely on courtroom evidence.