A Monster Calls

There is one thing that scares Connor more than anything in the world, more than when his father left him and his mother to move to America, more than his creepy grandma, and more than his mother’s cancer that never seems to get better. This is Connor’s one truth, a truth that hides itself in a horrible, incessant nightmare that no one can ever know about. On a particularly stormy night, when the old Yew tree outside his house comes alive, turning itself into a horrible, leafy monster and calls to Connor, Connor is not scared; this monster is not the same monster as in his nightmare. The monster, which has always preferred to take the shape of a Yew tree, is as old as stars, wide as the sky, and righteous in a way that would confuse most humans. The monster has only come walking three times before Connor called it and he tells Connor that he will share three stories with him. When he is done with these tales of royal quarrels, selfish apothecaries, and a wicked step-mother, Connor must tell him a story, the truth he has never dared tell anyone.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is lyrical, haunting and heart-wrenching; it’s one of those rare books that will stay with you forever. The stark black illustrations throughout the book add even more depth to the story and characters. Make sure to have some tissues nearby when you get towards the end of the book. One of the best books I’ve read this year!