Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

38 reviews

aryn456's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've first found out about this story through the movie, a most brilliant adaptation of the work. But the book was much better, in every conceivable way. From the impeccable writing style, to the twisted illustrations, the deeply complex characters and their relationships - a must read for any age group! 
The book greatly goes into detail about the complexity of human nature, in a way that even children will understand and learn. And yet it does not get boring for anyone older than a child. 
This story has brought me to tears twice now, and I am certain that it will do so again and again and again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Death

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Vomit, Mental illness, Medical content, and Violence

karwc's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Bullying, Grief, Death, and Terminal illness

Minor: Medical content

emerentina's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Physical abuse, Bullying, and Cancer

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

demongays's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer and Medical content

loss of a parent

maeverose's review against another edition

3.0

Conor’s grief presents in the form of anger, and leads to him having some very unhealthy and harmful coping mechanisms. While I completely understand that is how some people react to grief, and part of the point of the story was Conor having to learn to heal, I felt that the book focused almost solely on Conor’s feelings and I don’t feel like there was enough emphasis on him changing how he treated others. He kind of just got away with all the bad things he did to other people. Also, all the female characters in the book are framed as mean, or end up getting killed or dying. Lily being the only real exception. This annoyed me a bit.

Another mild thing that annoyed me, even though it was pointed out in the book, was how Conor’s parents wouldn’t be honest with him about what was happening. Yes Conor knew, but I think in a situation like that it’s much more helpful to be honest so your child can mentally prepare. Again, while the book did sort of acknowledge this it was still frustrating.

I do think this book has important messages about how everybody is complicated and our emotions are complicated and that’s okay, but I can’t say I enjoyed the overall reading experience.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Bullying, Death, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Murder, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, and Vomit

Minor: Misogyny and Sexual content

A note on the cancer: Conor’s mother’s diagnosis is never named, but it definitely seems to be coded as cancer. A note on the schizophrenia: Conor doesn’t have schizophrenia in the book, the monster is just a magical realism representation of his grief, but there are definitely scenes where it could appear similar to a psychosis episode

maggieoc_x's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this hurt.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Grief, Bullying, Cancer, and Death

Moderate: Medical content

iane_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Bullying, Medical content, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Hate crime

Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Blood, Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Child death

ofheartsandaros's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Cancer, Bullying, and Death of parent

Moderate: Medical content and Vomit

zoe_werdy's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book ripped my heart out and genuinely made me sob but what a beautiful and shattering story of grief through the eyes of a child. My copy was beautifully illustrated as well which propelled my whole heart into the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death, and Medical trauma

seforana's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Medical content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Cancer, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, and Grief