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The Beast

3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 · rating details · 330 ratings · 107 reviews

An exciting, eye-catching repackage of acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers' bestselling paperbacks, to coincide with the publication of SUNRISE OVER FALLUJA in hardcover.

Seventen-year-old Anthony "Spoon" Witherspoon is returning to Harlem after seven months at an exclusive prep school. He never wanted to leave the city in the first place--especially not to walk the hallowed...more

Paperback, 192 pages

Published May 1st 2005 by Scholastic Paperbacks (first published 2003)

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DCPL's Teen Urban Drama Booklist

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Walter Dean Myers

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Nov 30, 2008 Laurie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: outside-reading

Anthony Witherspoon goes away to finish out school at the Academy where he is removed from Harlem and life on the streets. After being gone for only a few months Anthony “Spoon” visits his high school love, Gabi, only to find she is more distant from him than he could have imagined.
“She seemed so different than she had been, as if she had somehow wound tighter than a person ever should be, as if at any moment she would either spring loose into a thousand parts or stop altogether. Somehow I had...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Ryan Milbrath rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Beast by Walter Dean Myers is a great teenage read by one of the best young adult fiction writers. Myers has written over 50 novels of fiction and non-fiction. His gritty, realistic portrayal of war, clashing culture, and adult experiences through the eyes of youth has generated both acclaim and controversy. He has won the Corretta Scott King award, while at the same time, being condemned for the language and adult content of his stories. The Beast is no exception. A young adult novel about...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Benmurray rated it 4 of 5 stars

After reading and reflecting on the book "The Beast”, I really enjoyed it. The author did a great job of making connections between the characters experiences with real life problems. I really liked how I could connect to the book because I’m the same age as Anthony.

This story takes place in the streets of Harlem, New York. The main character of the story is a high school boy, who goes by the name of Anthony “Spoon” Witherspoon. Anthony is a great kid who just wants to escape the streets and liv...more

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Oct 23, 2012 D.t. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Summary of book:
The book is about a girl and a boy getting together and he had went back to his school and she was in a rehab trying to get off drugs and then at the end she had got her a job at the end of the story and they had said good bye to each other and then they had move on with their life and that was the best thing to me and one last thing he liked Chanelle but he just love Gabi the most though.

What I like about the book?
This is what I liked about the book he really did care about Gabi...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Madeline Knight-Dixon rated it 5 of 5 stars

I finished this book yesterday, but had to give myself some time to think about it before writing anything down. There’s a lot to say when you come across a book like this, the questions is always what can I say that will make other people want to read it?

Of course there’s the plot. A kid who grew up in Harlem goes to a private boarding school, only to come back over Christmas break and find everything has changed. His girlfriend is addicted to heroin, her younger brother is messing around in ga...more I finished this book yesterday, but had to give myself some time to think about it before writing anything down. There’s a lot to say when you come across a book like this, the questions is always what can I say that will make other people want to read it?

Of course there’s the plot. A kid who grew up in Harlem goes to a private boarding school, only to come back over Christmas break and find everything has changed. His girlfriend is addicted to heroin, her younger brother is messing around in gangs, his friends have dropped out of high school. Suddenly he feels like an outsider in a place he has always considered his own. His territory. Where does he fit in now? Definitely not with the rich kids at his school, but not in the hood anymore either. He feels completely lost.

For me, the most striking this was the language used to describe life in the hood. The poetry the author uses is extraordinary, but without making the spoken words cheesy or out of place. The main character describes everything around him, his sense of isolation, the flow of life around him, all these things with such accuracy that it’s impossible not to relate to him even though I’ve lived in an upper middle class neighborhood my entire life.

Maybe the most interesting thing (at least to me, the nerdy English major) is that the entire story takes place in about two weeks. It’s not a conventional novel about drug abuse, there’s no story of spiraling down, getting caught, trying to pick yourself back up. You only hear about that secondhand from his girlfriend, and again in a very poetic way. Instantly you get this sense of time flying by, of being out of control as things rush past and you racing to figure out how to deal with everything that’s happening. I loved it. It was a completely brilliant choice. It’s only 164 pages long, only took me an hour and a half to read, but it was so dense and powerful.

There’s a reason this man has more awards than I need to list and is acclaimed as one of the best young adult writers out there. This was definitely an awesome introduction to his work.(less)

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May 11, 2011 Brianne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-lit

Once I started to read this book I fell right into it. I could barely put it down. I really enjoyed the whole story and everything that was happening. It took me a little while to get why they call the main character "Spoon". However, it didn't take long to finally realize it just had to do with his last name.

I didn't exactly know what to expect with this book. I had no idea what "The Beast" was, so, I didn't exactly know what to expect. As I moved on and started reading you quickly learn what...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Aimee Haderlie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-21-30

The Beast is about a young man (Anthony) who is a senior in high school and at the beginning of the school year his parents send him to a prep school three hours from home. He has a girlfriend who he is very in love with and her name is Gabi. When he leaves for school expects Gabi to write to him often with her beautiful poetry and stay very close. They made many plans but little did he know so much would change. When he comes home for Christmas vacation he finds that Gabi has become a drug addi...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Brandi Penny rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Beast by Walter Dean Myers is a great novel for middle school students to read. As a high school senior reading this book I enjoyed the concept and plotting. For me it lacked detail and explaination of some of the interesting things of drug use and Gabi's struggle through it. I felt that the author did go into detail but it seemed to be on the things that were not important to the story. This would be an excellent read for middle school students and those transitioning into high school. Real...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Chelseahale rated it 2 of 5 stars

I rated this book 2 out of 5 stars because I did not enjoy it that much. The main reason I did not like The Beast was that I think the story was a little too young for me. If I were in the seventh grade reading this book I would probably have loved it. The basis for the story was good, Gabi getting into drugs, Spoon trying to help her, but the way the situation was described was not detailed enough for me. To me it seemed like Walter Dean Myers put too much effort into trying to tone the drama...more

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Mar 06, 2010 Mason Frey rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Beast
By: Walter Dean Myers
This book takes place in Harlem and Connecticut. The main characters in this book are Spoon, a teenage boy going to school in Connecticut and Gabi's boyfriend, Gabi, Spoon's girlfriend, and Rafe, Gabi's little brother.
In this book Spoon leaves Harlem to go to a school in Connecticut for awhile. He is doing great in school and making friends but he forgets about how things go back in Harlem. When he comes home for Christmas break he thinks everything is normal. Hi...more

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Feb 10, 2011 Jarrett rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

The Beast / by Walter Dean Myers

“…Am I seeing now with my heart what I never saw with my eyes? When the boy leaves in a rush all that I see is a shadow across my eyes. From then on it is what the heart sees.” (Pg. 102).

This meditative novel by Walter Dean Myers begins with a romantic, hopeful prologue, full of professions of love and promises of faith. Anthony “Spoon” Witherspoon, born and raised in Harlem, is on his way out of town, on his way to a tony private school up north, away from his be...more The Beast / by Walter Dean Myers

“…Am I seeing now with my heart what I never saw with my eyes? When the boy leaves in a rush all that I see is a shadow across my eyes. From then on it is what the heart sees.” (Pg. 102).

This meditative novel by Walter Dean Myers begins with a romantic, hopeful prologue, full of professions of love and promises of faith. Anthony “Spoon” Witherspoon, born and raised in Harlem, is on his way out of town, on his way to a tony private school up north, away from his beloved Gabi and the neighborhood he knows. “La Misma ola vagabunda que te lleva te devuelva. ‘May the same waters that take you bring you back to me,’” Gabi says to Spoon. “I promise to be true to you, and that our first child will have eyes as dark as the winter sky,” Spoon returns. These two poet-souls are in love – they’re cocooned in it – but distance threatens them. So does the Beast, lying in wait.

“The Beast, half human, half bull, roamed the endless corridors of the labyrinth, waiting for the youth upon which it would feed.”

After four months away, surrounded by idyllic landscapes, playing basketball in high-class gyms, and consorting with entitled kids of the privileged elite – not to mention silently suffering a gnawing silence from Gabi - Spoon’s back and something’s not right. One of his best friends has dropped out of school, Clara from down the street – always “Miss Perfect” – is pregnant, and Rafe is “gang banging.” And then there’s Gabi: She’s thinner, full of sad hesitation around Spoon, and is that a needle next to her bed?

Myers’s book is sad and almost dreamlike as it follows Spoon between the worlds of Harlem and the rich. Spoon moves through The Beast in a fog of confusion, not certain any more what’s home and what’s not. He’s unsure of who he is, where he belongs and how to forge ahead. In one scene he’s dancing in a spacious midtown high-rise and feeling lust for beautiful, confident Chanelle from his school and in another he’s searching the corners of a dim basement room for the body of his doped-up girlfriend before she dies of an overdose. But The Beast is also packed with a beautiful poetry that somehow gets at tough reality, the kind where people once in love are forced eventually apart, suffering a years-long, low-grade fever of hurt. It’s hard to put down. And it’s more than relevant for a community as segregated economically and racially as our own. (less)

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Apr 30, 2011 Kailee Jensen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit

I was impressed by the writing of this book--Walter Dean Myers did a phenomenal job of developing voice for his characters. The plot line--about a guy who tries to help his girlfriend come free of "the beast" (drugs)--wasn't particularly pleasing to me. In fact, the book was rather boring in my opinion. However, I have not been around people who struggle with this addition or dealt with drugs in anyway in my life. Possibly someone who has been more exposed to this type of neighborhood and its ac...more

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Jun 09, 2011 Leisha Volmer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, ya-books

If it wasn't for having to read a book by Walter Dean Myers for my Young Adult Lit. class I don't know if this book would have caught my attention. As I read it I got hooked though because of Myer's great writing skills. He is a really great author. I found myself actually getting into the book and liking it as well. It was cool learning a littl bit how others live away from myself. I'm not used to hearing about poverty and drugs because I've lived in a nice town all my life. Also it was differe...more

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May 24, 2011 Nicole Norton rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-lit

I think my misguided expectations for this book were the reason why I didn't like it as much. I think that I was expecting it to talk about the hard-core details of what a life of drug use does to a person, but it didn't. Though the drugs are a significant part of the plot, I felt that this book was more about the main character's discovery of who he was and where he belonged. And I did like that. But, like I said, it was just different from my expectations. Maybe if I re-read it I would like it...more

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May 06, 2011 Cassi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Walter Dean Myers' words have a way of moving you even if you have not been in the same situation as his characters. I haven't even been in a place like Gabi or Spoon, but the emotions that Myers creates with his diction help you connect to them. It makes you feel as if you had been the one on the streets of Harlem looking for who you are. The Beast (I can't figure out how to underline in this, the shortcuts don't work) shows how people who come from similar backgrounds can end up in different p...more

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Mar 22, 2011 Danielle Hunn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was very interesting. I feel that it was just a little too easy for me. The storyline of the book was a little predictable, but there were a few shockers here in there. The relationship between the two teens was very different than what most teens may be used to. Each individual character had their own story but it all seemed to affect the main character Anthony who appeared to be my favorite. He was able to make it out of the hood and find himself doing well in life. His girlfriend on...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

When reading Walter Dean Myers, the word that comes to mind most frequently is workmanlike. Both his tale and his approach to it are straightforward, and that simple realism is probably what draws so many readers to his stories. (Well, that and his near-cornering of the niche market of writing about distressed populations who might not normally make it into young adult fiction except as side character object lessons.) Unfortunately, the workmanship that sells it for so many others leaves me feel...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Dominique rated it 2 of 5 stars

This novel was about a young man named "Spoon" who comes home on break from his New England prep school to find that the home he left is not the same home now. He reconnects with his friends and sees them and his neighborhood as if it is the first time. He then finds out that his girlfriend has been using drugs and he struggles to find a way to help her.

This story was a very interesting story, but I did not like the main character very much. He goes to a sophisticated prep school, but he talks...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Robyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book as my Urban Realism. This turned out to be a great book. The main character, Anthony Witherspoon ("Spoon"), is leaving Harlem and going to Wallingford Academy to finish High School. He is in his Senior year, and hopes this will help him to get accepted into a nice college to have a better future. Gabi, his one true love, is staying in Harlem and begins to battle family crisis when Spoon leaves. Upon returning for winter break Spoon is nervous and feels he is returning to the unk...more

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Mar 09, 2009 Jose rated it 3 of 5 stars

The beast The beast was good book I recommend it but it’s not my but its style. This author is great when I started reading I couldn’t stop. This book showed me an incredible message it was not to stop. Always be perseverant. For example in the book when Anthony’s girl friend gets I drugs. Anthony does not stop. Until he can reach his goal. This author shows great word choice. Like this magnificent word fiercely. What a powerful word. So remember if you want a book with great content and word c...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Charles Mournet rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 9th-grade

I think "Spoon" is a young man who feels like going of to a high school boarding school messed his whole life up. Gabi, Spoons girlfriend started using drugs and It all seemed to go downhill for her from there. Spoon came back from his school for christmas break and Gabi's mother was sick. From there as it seemed Gabi was avoiding him. It all fell apart when Gabi's mother died and Gabi's drug problems took a hold of her, Spoon rescued her and toke her back to her house and signed her up for drug...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Lexiem rated it 3 of 5 stars

I think the book was a okay book however, it isn't one of my favorites at all. It isn't for a high school reading level. I think kids in the 6th grade could read this book with no problem. It could of been more interesting but the only way it could be more interesting is if the author added more description or more information about some of the other characters. He wasted more time talking about what doesn't matter instead of the more important things like Gabi's mom. If you are interested in re...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Melissa Wright rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 21-30

This is about a young boy, Spoon, who is so excited to be coming home from his prep school. He cant wait to see his girlfriend and get back to the way that things used to be. However when he comes home he finds out that things are way different. The girl that everyone considered to be perfect was pregnant, his friend dropped out of school, and worst of all his girlfriend is too skinny and addicted to drugs. When Gabi,spoon's girlfriend, mom dies will spoon have the strength to help his girl out...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Edward Lui rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 11th-grade-adivisory

Anthony, "Spoon," is at an academy far away from Harlem to finish his highschool education. His family wanted for him to have a great learning environment and hopefully, a successsful future. In the beginning, Spoon starts away from his home in Harlem and is about to return. He is eager to see his long time girl friend Gabi and his family as well. Most importantly, he wants to spend time with Gabi and "catch up" with her. While Sppon was away at the acadey, Gabi promised to write to him and call...more

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Dec 10, 2011 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

This is one of those books that you read it and feel like you are right there in the story. Usually on the outside looking in you know exactly what you would do in the situations that the stories present, but I felt so lost as I read about Gabi and Spoon's predicament. I learned a lot from reading this book, but one of the main things that I'm walking away with is that life is a choice. Your life and your path are not always going to be laid out straight and pretty for you. So when it starts to...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Caleb Despain rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: soper-ya-lit-class

Not my favorite, but a decent portrayal of teens dealing with issues like drugs. It is a short, and one with some interesting ideas. I actually really enjoyed the main character, who was a convincing individual. The theme of this novel was an interesting and I thought the book did a good job portraying it. Honestly though, reviewing this book is like reviewing a day in the life of some of my friends back home. It's beauty is in the realism, and in the realistic portrayal of teens. Definitely, a...more

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Jul 17, 2012 David Schultz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-lit

This was an interesting read that shows drug addiction and how much things that you take for granted can change while you are gone for a while. The main character leaves for college and returns to his home to find that his girlfriend has become addicted to meth. it is an endearing story about a man who is trying to discover who he is while facing the trials that drugs create in his life.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who wants a fast read that contains modern fiction about real life even...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Antique Fields rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tags: Drugs, New beginnings, New people
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Lexile Score: 680L

Book Review: The Beast by Walter Dean Myers is a very inspiring book. This shows how people can change with new surroundings. It also shows tough love and hardships, this is a great story.

Plot Summary: This couple wants to get married, but the girl must go off to college. She is going to college and she finds different people and friends to hang around. Her boyfriend who is back in New York is very worried about her...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Brittney Osterhout rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 9-16

It took me a bit to get into the book but once I did I couldn't put it down. The Beast tells of a world that is hard for me to imagine and gives a glimpse in to the pain and hardships that this life will provide. I also enjoyed the style of writing and how personal it felt. This is a very real reality to so many teenagers in many parts of this country and around the world.

Scale of 0-10 (0=none, 10=extreme)
Violence -0 No
Language -2 I can only remember a few words being said but nothing to extreme...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Mussanturubika marked it as to-read Recommends it for: to my classmate

anthony "spoon" he leave his home and his girl friend were he grow up in harlem, his going at the academy to finish his highschool edication.when he was there his girl friend she always write to him and call him, but as days pass the letters and calls become lass and lass.and tha start getting spoon worries. he went bakc to harlem were he grow up, he see everything has change it was the new harlem.apperently, nothong was the sameand no one was safe on the stree.his be loved Gabi, is surprisingly...more

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About Walter Dean Myers

pseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson

Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.

After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empi...more

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“La Misma ola vagabunda que te lleva te devuelva.” — 1 person liked it

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