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A review by kcrawfish
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
5.0
This is a book about a monster. A real, 50 ft tall, tree monster.
This is also a story about cancer.
Conor is a boy struggling with the slow death of his mother, and how her cancer spins him into isolation, making him invisible at school to everyone except his bully and his ex-best friend who did something he can’t forgive. Even the teachers don’t call on him in class or punish him when he breaks the rules. He is an island.
And the story begins with a horrible monster bending it’s way into his bedroom and trying to scare Conor. When Conor is disappointed by his lack of terror, the monster promises that he will be afraid by the end, and says that he will tell him 3 tales, and then Conor will give his own “truth” story the fourth time they meet.
Conor comes to search out and look forward to the monster’s visits as the beast becomes the only support he has.
The monster is here for a reason, and this is a creative, clean look at a child dealing with slow death. Just be prepared for suffering, bloody fists, and a 50 foot tall Green Man who also happens to be a Yew tree.
This is also a story about cancer.
Conor is a boy struggling with the slow death of his mother, and how her cancer spins him into isolation, making him invisible at school to everyone except his bully and his ex-best friend who did something he can’t forgive. Even the teachers don’t call on him in class or punish him when he breaks the rules. He is an island.
And the story begins with a horrible monster bending it’s way into his bedroom and trying to scare Conor. When Conor is disappointed by his lack of terror, the monster promises that he will be afraid by the end, and says that he will tell him 3 tales, and then Conor will give his own “truth” story the fourth time they meet.
Conor comes to search out and look forward to the monster’s visits as the beast becomes the only support he has.
The monster is here for a reason, and this is a creative, clean look at a child dealing with slow death. Just be prepared for suffering, bloody fists, and a 50 foot tall Green Man who also happens to be a Yew tree.