A Monster Calls: A Novel (Movie Tie-in): Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd

A MONSTER CALLS is beautiful, terrible and profound. I have not been this emotionally invested in a story in many years and savored each page of this story that draws you in so completely that you find yourself totally at the mercy of the narrative. Each of the four stories in A MONSTER CALLS evoke real emotion and a sense of love and loss that is truly poignant as Conor, a young boy trying to deal with his mother’s terminal cancer, is visited each night by a monster who insists that it is Conor who has summoned him. The monster says he will tell Conor three true stories after which Conor must tell a true story of his own or face the wrath of the monster. The stories told by the monster are thinly veiled representations of characters and situations Conor is confronting and attempting to cope with. Each of the stories contains a life lesson in the complexities of people’s behavior, the judgement and punishment for ones foibles while ultimately revealing that it is being truthful that is the most important gift we can give ourselves. This review is just a brief glimpse into a wonderful book that can be enjoyed by the YA crowd and as well as adults. We can all learn from this insightful book.

Given its difficult subject matter, i.e. a young boy's mother dying of cancer, this book is still an enthralling and rewarding read. The fantasy and realistic elements are wonderfully interwoven. The movie is true to the novel and worth purchasing in combination with the book due to its excellent cast.

This is a beautiful book just to hold in your hands. It is heavy, like the mood of its protagonist, with high quality paper and beautiful illustrations. This collector's edition includes interviews with people involved in making the movie: artists, producers, actors, who talk about more than just "being in the movie," but how to make trees move, how to find places that fit the film. A universal story in a presentation that might peak the interest of many different students in many different fields.

A well written novel exploring how a young boy both physically and emotionally manages (quite poorly initially) loss and abandonment, His father divorced and moved to another country, he has a new sibling he’s never met, His mother is dying, He hates his only other living relative. Will he answer the call of the monster? Or will his connections to his mother’s creativity and independence save him? My 15-12 year old grandchildren enjoyed the suspense and well-written story along with the imagery in this book, which was also made into a wonderful movie.

This was such a touching story. Oddly, the tree reminded me of my grandfather who always gave me riddles for advice that I did not appreciate until I was older. This will hit home with the kids, like myself, who had to endure tragedies during their childhood and had no where to turn. I felt helpless and I was in denial. I couldn't wait to get to the end and when I did, I was not disappointed. I immediately passed the book on to my sister and told her to pass it to someone she knows would truly appreciate it.

The pictures and add-ons are really pretty and nice throughout the book. I am glad I got this one instead of the normal one.

A Monster Calls is a heartbreaking story that truly captivates the mind of the reader. Ness writes about the realities of death, bullying, and loneliness in the life of a young boy. Although extremely difficult, this story could lead to important discussions about real-life issues for young adults, especially for those learning to cope with similar issues. A Monster Calls is a fascinating addition to young adult literature and is definitely worth the read.

This is a fantastic story, and helpful for children who are dealing with issues, such as death, that are much more than what they need be dealing with at a tender age, although sometimes life just doesn't give options...we have to deal with whatever is dealt to us. Many cheers to Patrick Ness and his keen insight and imagination for the expression of one such matter in A Monster Calls.

Buen Libro, a buen precio. Llego en buenas condiciones.

O produto tem boa qualidade. Minha filha utiliza na aula de inglês da escola.

Ottima edizione da collezione. La sovraccopertina è molto resistente e piacevolissima al tatto. Ottime le pagine patinate e le illustrazioni. Bellissima anche la parte riguardante il film. Merita davvero.

Beautiful story that I like to read to my students once every other year.

Excellent play. Using it for GCSE Component 2. Students are living it.