A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness [Review]

"Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havo they might wreak?"

Overview

This is one of those books that you have to read and experience on your own, to see the beautiful illustrations that make the story come to life and create a dark and frightening atmosphere.

This is a story about a boy named Conor, who lives with his mother and has to deal with her being very ill. He has these nightmares that won't stop and one night, he gets visited by a monster. 

I started this book on a whim and, since it only has around 200 pages with full-page illustrations throughout, it is a rather fast read and I recommend reading it in one sitting to experience the construction of the atmosphere and the emotional ride Conor has to go through. 

To say more would be to reveal too much. If you have not read this book, please do so! Patrick Ness wrote this story based on the ideas of Siobhan Dowd, who wasn't able to complete this novel before she died. He did an exceptional job and it is definitely worth the experience. But be warned: it might grip your heart and squeeze hard. It surely did that with me. 

Discussion [Spoiler]

I had so many feelings for Conor. With his mother being terminally ill, he has to grow up so fast and be strong on his own. The hates being treated differently at school because of it and hates his friend Lily for telling everyone.

I really hated his father for being so selfish. Even though he has a new family in America, Conor is still his son and he doesn't even try to help him or take him in. He doesn't get along with his grandmother as well. She can't express her feelings very well and he hates it when she comes over to live with Conor and his mother. 

"You be as angry as you need to be, " she said. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. [...] And if you need to break things, then by God, you break them good and hard."

The final talk with his mother made me cry. And I think this is a really important message because you should have the right to be angry and sad and everything else you want to feel when someone you love and care for is about to die. It makes you think about the value of life, how unfair it can be and that this powerlessness can hit you really hard. 

Conor feels guilty for wishing it all to be over. He has this nightmare every night that represents his guilt and fear. He already has to face his greatest fears and so the monster doesn't seem scary at all to him. It felt rather like a self-help mechanism of his own mind to face the truth and see that it is ok to want it to be over for the affected person's and your own sake. 

Rating