A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Release Date: January 2011
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
Rating: ★★★★☆
“Stories are important…They can be more important than anything. If they carry the truth.” – Monster
This beautifully illustrated 200-page book is the story of Connor, a young boy plagued by monsters, who is trying to deal with the realities of a harsh world and the unfair cards he’s been dealt. Connor is visited by a wise, old monster who tries to teach him lessons about life, about stories and about truth.
A Monster Calls is a modern day children’s fairytale — fit for times when movies like Frozen are bigger hits than movies like Sleeping Beauty. Ness’ storytelling is so pure, raw and honest. Ness weaves a compelling and strong story that is meaningful to all readers, has a great grip on morals and insights to life and shows us that not all stories are happy, but that is okay.
I did expect something quite different, and more emotional (though there was quite a bit of emotion there), but what I got was such an amazingly constructed and beautiful tale.
This is a truthful story about pain, grief and children having to grow up too fast. I would highly recommend anyone pick up A Monster Calls and enjoy what could be the start of a wonderful new age of children’s fairytale teachings.
This was my first Patrick Ness book. Do you love his work? What should I read by Ness next? Let me know in the comments below.
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– Reggie
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