Reviews with content warning for Cancer - A Monster Calls

A Monster Calls is beautiful and devastating. This is a short story about truth, grief, and living with conflicting truths. For a kids'/YA book, it's absolutely brutal. The art is a perfect edition to this dark, modern, occasionally funny fairy tale. What can we control when monsters inevitably come knocking? Are they monsters at all?

Content Warnings

roseapickles's review

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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chelseamayxxx's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

The ending of this book had me in tears as I didn’t expect it to end like it did at all I was crying though the last 20 pages as the writer wrote the ending so perfectly and so relatable and realistic. The way this story is told from beginning to end is told so respectfully and so moving. I really liked the monsters parts in the book as it showed that he was trying to help all the way though the story. I felt so heartbroken for the little boy and his family. I also liked that this author helped write this book for a friend of his that he sadly lost before she could wrote this book. This book is so powerful and so moving. Xxx

Content Warnings

queenneehola's review against another edition

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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

4.0

Content Warnings

aryn456's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings