In 'A Monster Calls,' Patrick Ness explores themes of love, loss, and the struggle to find truth through the eyes of Conor, a young boy grappling with his mother's illness. When an ancient creature visits him, it challenges Conor to confront his deepest fears and emotions. This poignant tale weaves together elements of healing and courage, offering a powerful narrative about the complexities of grief.
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 by Patrick Ness is a deeply moving low-fantasy novel that follows a twelve-year-old boy named Conor O'Malley as he navigates the overwhelming isolation of his mother’s severe illness. Struggling with a distant father, a strict grandmother, and relentless bullying at school, Conor feels completely alone in his grief. His emotional turmoil manifests visually when an ancient yew tree monster comes alive in his backyard, visiting him at precisely 12:07 AM. The monster promises to tell Conor three stories over their subsequent meetings, but demands that Conor tell a fourth story in return—one that forces him to face his deepest, most terrifying nightmare. Through these dark, unconventional fables, the story explores the complex, messy nature of human emotions, grief, and the difficult journey toward healing.
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Readers connected to this book most often reflect Psychological Moral Explorer reader archetypes. Their strongest shared genre interests include Thriller, Science, Literary Fiction, and Historical Fiction. They are commonly drawn to themes such as Exploring The Fractured Self, Survival, technology, and gaming.
“Your mind will believe comforting lies while also knowing the painful truths.”
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