Ness, Patrick. (2011). A Monster Calls. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
Awards: Top Tep Best Fiction for Young Adults
Carnegie Medal, Kate Greenaway Medal
Age Rage: 11-13
Pages: 216
Lexile: 730L
Reader's Summary: Conor O'Malley's mother is dying of cancer and Conor is having nightmares that a monster is trying to pull his mother into a pit. One night he wakes up and there is a real monster, a tree creature outside his bedroom window. Coincidentally he always wakes up at 12:07 a.m. During the day the monster transforms himself into a yew tree in the cemetery behind Conor's house. The monster tells Conor 3 that he unconsciously acts out in his real life. Conor has been in denial about his mother's terminal cancer, that the monster intervenes to help him see and cope with reality. Connor's mother passes away by him on her side at 12:07.
Reader's response: The idea of this novel was started by the author Siobhan Dowd, who died from cancer before finishing the story. Author Patrick Ness was asked to take over the work so it could be published. The protagonist in this novel is only 13 years old, but is carrying so much weight on his shoulder that the easiest thing to do is deny reality. Many of us have been in this position, mourning a loss of a love one. The story gives us a lesson that is ok to let go when you have been caring for someone for so long. That we are all strong to confront our fears. The black ink illustrations from Jim Kay only make the monster more terrifying and add suspense to the story. This is a great novel to share with anyone who is suffering the loss of a love one and you don't know how to show you care.
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