A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Release: 9/15/2012
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 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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A Monster Calls is a poignant tale about a young boy, Conor, who has a reoccurring "dream". A monster, resembling a Yew tree, comes to him at night and tells him three stories--each more ridiculous than the next. But there's a catch. In the end, Conor must come face to face with his own grief and tell the monster his story (a bitter and revealing truth he has thus far refused to admit to himself). Telling you what this truth is, though, would spoil the whole book, so I will say this: READ "A MONSTER CALLS". It is a phenomenal book that had tears gushing down my cheeks by the end.
This book didn't have outstanding characterization or plot. But that's not the point. A Monster Calls depicts the universal experience of struggling between holding on and letting go. It profoundly affected me, and I found myself highlighting my kindle because there were so many meaningful quotes. I'm not kidding. Words can't express how much I ADORE this book. So do yourself a favor and get a copy now (and have some tissues handy). You won't regret it.
RATING: 5 SLICES
Great review! :-) This book became a favorite when I read it last month
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