Book Review: A Monster Calls

Written by Patrick Ness, ‘A Monster Calls’ is one of the most emotionally moving books I have read.

This book tells its readers about a boy named Conor. A 13-year-old figuring out loss, hope, and love. His mother has Cancer and everybody knows this. He is bullied by kids, pitied by teachers and bossed around by his grandmother. His mother’s treatment does not seem to be working. But he still grasps on for hope, hoping that his mother would live.

He has the same dream every night, His mother falling from his grasp. But one night, everything changes. He is visited by something ancient, elemental, a force of nature. An ancient Yew tree.

All it wants from Conor is the truth.

Truth is something not many of us including Conor at that time would be surprised with. The yew tree tells Conor stories from its past. Stories of deception, love, cruelty, pain, and suffering. These throw Conor off balance, but he has bigger, more crucial things to worry about. But as time passes the inner feeling gets more intense. The truth becomes even more difficult to tell, but until he doesn’t the pain only clutches him more tightly.

In the end, after years of knowing the truth, but having no courage to speak it out, he says it. He completes the monster’s demand. He admits that he wants it all to end even if it means losing his mother.

He is shattered by his own thoughts. But this is where the monster teaches him and the readers a very important lesson in life. Difference between a thought and an action. After all, each thought is one of a million in a day.

Conor finally accepts the truth, something he had known for long.

He clutches his mother with all his might and by doing so, he finally lets her go.

The ancient Yew tree leaves not only Conor but the reader as a different person as well. It is a must-read for people of all ages. In my opinion, it connects you to the Chakras of life.

And the answer to “Was the Monster real or was it all in Conor’s head?” is –

” Of course it was happening in Conor’s head, but why on Earth should that mean it’s not real?”- Inspired by Albus Dumbledore.

Because ” Monsters don’t sleep under your bed, they sleep inside your head.”- The Joker.

But in the end, all that matters is what you interpret of this brave and beautiful book.

Links to buy it-

• India- amazon.in
• USA- amazon.com
• Canada- amazon.ca
• United Kingdom- amazon.co.uk