Book Review: A Monster Calls

A MONSTER CALLS by Patrick Ness
4 Stars
Verdict: Where real nightmares meet imaginary ones

Every night at 12:07 a monster visits Connor, but he's not afraid. Because this isn't the monster from his terrifying dreams. It's not the monster he's afraid of.

Connor's mother is very sick, and everyone at school already knows. No one will talk to him anymore. At home, him and his mother are fine on their own - he can take care of both of them - except now his grandmother is coming to stay, and everyone is trying to have 'the talk'. Except the monster, who visit him to tell him stories. After the third, Connor must tell his story, his truth, but he doesn't understand what it means.

It took me a while to warm to this book, but in the end it's a heart-filled story of dealing with loss. I felt for Connor on every page, and sought the monster's visits as much as he did. The monster's stories explain to you what this story is about, hinting to why he visits, and by the end, I needed to hear Connor's truth as much as he needed to say it.

It's a good, short children's book that can be appreciated by adults too.

Source: Bought it to complete my 2017 reading challenge.

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