NOW A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor, featuring stunning artwork by Jim Kay. At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting– he’s been expecting the one from his … the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It’s ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd– whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself– Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.
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Every once in a while, a book comes along that just stops me in my tracks. This just happened to be one of those books. A young adult novel tackling death as its subject matter, A Monster Calls is a thought provoking, endearing read.
Conor’s mum is ill and his dad has a new family. To make matters worse, his dad has relocated to America and …
Conor’s mother is dying of cancer, and he hasn’t been coping well. Then, a strange yew-tree monster starts visiting him in the dead of night.
This book is the strangest combination of creepy, heartbreaking, and actually sort of inspiring. It’s a quick and unique read, so definitely worth it if you’re looking for something a little different.
Again, this was an accidental read, as I had tripped over a book about the artwork/production of the movie version. Further exploration produced the original novel. And is it ever original… I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I finished the book in two evenings. It’s powerful and, despite the presence of a backyard monster, is rather …
WOW!! For me, this is a book I will never soon forget. It’s a very quick little read, easily done in one afternoon even if you aren’t a fast reader. I am not a crier however this book had me boo-hoo’ing out loud in my living room (alone of course). I really related to the main character, a young boy, with what he was going through (I don’t want to …
Whimsical in nature but harsh in reality, this clever tale follows Conor who summons a monster from his nightmares to help him deal with his mother’s terminal cancer. It’s clever in that the prose is simple but heartwarming with a deep-seated grasp on a difficult topic.
Was intrigued by the overwhelmingly positive reviews and was not disappointed. The characters are relatable, the story peels away like an onion leaving emotional truth. I wiped tears a couple places and sobbed at the end…wish I could go back and check on how they are doing now.
Fascinating. Unusual. Much different than I thought it would be emotional. Really good. Don’t want to say too much or give away the story but it was an excellent story
This is a book about loss or, at least, preparing for it. The hero is a fourteen year old named Conor or maybe it is the monster. Its not a monster actually, its a yew tree which, in time of trial, walks. The story of how he helps Conor survive a terrible time in his life is beautiful. This is a type of trauma which many of us have had to …
This story is a culmination of 3 artist work. The original story idea was crafted by Siobhan Dowd, she unfortunately has passed away. So her idea was picked up and brought to life by Patrick Ness. This is a story that at first glance is a dark story about a boy that is suffering from grief and fear during the time that his mother was dying, and is …
Oh my gosh, let me wipe the mascara from beneath my eyes before I begin.
Yes, if you read this book, there will be tears.
A boy named Conor struggles with the complicated and powerful feelings. His mother’s undergoing treatments for a serious illness (probably cancer). His father’s absent, his only school friend betrayed him, and the kids at …
Not at all what I was expecting. I was thinking it was going to be a scary monster story. I did not expect it to rip my heart out and tear it into shreds. This was such a powerful story of love, loss, and moving on. Conner is just a young boy going through the unimaginable. He has to face the greatest fear of loss but he does not do it alone. I …
This story was absolutely wonderful. It was sad and at times a little dark but throughout it all, it has become a favorite of mine. You definitely will not be disappointed reading this book.
I had been wanting to read this book for ages and when i finally got around to it, I absolutely loved it. It was beautifully written and unlocked many emotions in me. The story was different but interesting and i think that Patrick Ness is a brilliant author!
This is the story of how a young boy deals with his mother’s cancer. IT’s fairly short and easy to read, but covers a lot of emotions. It’s heart-wrenching, sometimes funny, and always keeps the reader engaged. I highly recommend this one.
Heartwrenching and hopeful at the same time. Masterfully written with a strong voice and vivid settings. I kept a tissue handy, and definitely needed it by the end of the book. I thought it was a fantastic story that was not predictable at all, besides the inevitable ending.
Gives a great perspective how children feel during tragedy.
Reread July 2021 with my 8 year old: Well, I loved this again, and she was also really into it as a lover of all things spooky or scary. I still can’t decide how I feel about the genre – I’m not sure if the monster is really a monster, so I hesitate to agree that it’s horror at all, but he was spooky enough for a child used to middle grade …
Conor has unknowingly called a monster…an ancient being who tells him the only way to stop the oncoming pain is to hear 3 stories and then for Conor to tell his own – his truth.
Wow…this was nothing like what I expected. At first cover (because of course that’s why I have this ) I thought perfect! It looks dark and oh yeah MONSTER! What’s …
Reading “A Monster Calls” by Patrick Ness is certainly a wonderful yet tearful experience. A story about a young boy having to deal with his mother’s illness is an interesting perspective to see from, and the monster is an interesting character in and of itself as it provides advice that maybe all of us can use, and not just the characters. Not to …
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