Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

90 reviews

kimmykelly's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

zoe_werdy's review

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

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

tifftastic87's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Synopsis
Conor's mom is sick, like really sick, and everyone knows it is the end, except for him. When his mom is admitted to the hospital, a strange thing happens with the yew tree in the backyard. It comes to Conor at night and tells him there will be an exchange of tales, three from the monster and one from Conor. That's when things start to spiral.

Overt Grief
Lately, I have really been about stories with grief. This one really hit the mark. I know this is a middle grade (maybe early YA) book, but damn the imagery - both the words and the art - really expressed how Conor was feeling. It was frustrating, reading this as an adult, and seeing none of the other adults be honest with him about what was happening. We constantly underestimate children's abilities to understand the world around them and expect that they don't feel emotions how we do, when they are usually feeling them much, much stronger.

Story Length
Honestly, I kind of wish this were a longer book. I would have like a little more detail in the monster's stories, a little more back story on some of the characters, and perhaps even a short epilogue. That's my major qualm, is the story felt rushed when it didn't need to be and I felt it should have given space to some of the themes that required a little bit more.

Content Warnings
Detailed descriptions of bullying, grief, loss of a parent, cancer, and medical situations.
Moderate descriptions of violence. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Violence and Blood

Minor: Murder

lectora21's review

dark emotional sad fast-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? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual content

gillianengelbrecht's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Violence and Medical trauma

Minor: Medical content

green_amaryllis's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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: Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

suprconman99's review

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

3.75

This one got to me emotionally, had me tearing up the last 30 pages or so. Maybe it affected me more now as a parent of small children than it would have if I’d read it in my own adolescence, not sure. The plot itself is fairly simple and straightforward, a coming to terms with loss and navigating grief type tale, although the addition of the monster and his parables adds an enjoyable, fantastical element.

Maybe because it’s been a while since I read YA, but the writing itself was almost TOO simplistic at times. Still, I can see why Ness has earned the plaudits he has for writing fiction that is so emotionally engaging and resonant in a way that’s digestible for a younger audience.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Murder

giulianalb99's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

michela_ognibeni's review against another edition

emotional sad

2.0

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Content Warnings

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