This book by Patrick Ness has been around
for a little while now having been first published in 2011. I was drawn to read
it a few weeks back for two reasons; firstly the recent film of the book and
secondly because I am trying to expand my reading to cover as many different
genres and styles as I can while I learn theatre and craft of a novelist.
The book is a very easy read, not
surprising as it is targeted at children and young adults. That said, I found
it to be a very powerful book that is written with great emotion and
compassion, without becoming sentimental or mawkish. The main protagonist is a boy, Conor O’Malley, who is trying valiantly to
care for his terminally ill mother and keep their family unit together. Via a
series of nightmares a monster in the form of a large, old yew tree visits him.
The monster speaks to Conor and challenges him via the nightmares to learn lessons
from three tales. Conor desperately tries to understand each of the tales
hoping that this will bring salvation and cure for his mother.
Through the book we see his fierce
determination to stand proud as he tries to shoulder the burden alone in the
absolute belief that his mother will survive and defeat the cancer that is
ravaging her body. With the arrival of his grandmother we learn he has a difficult
relationship with the older woman who is herself coping with the imminent loss
of her daughter and the realisation that she will become a ‘mother’ to her
grandchild, a child she finds almost impossible to relate to. Conor’s absent
father comes back into his life towards the end and again the boy has to come
to terms with the fact that his father has his own new life in America and,
other than family visits, that life does not include Conor.
This book drew me in so much I am not
ashamed to say that I read the last twenty or so pages with silent tears
streaming down my cheeks and a huge lump in my throat as Conor finally faces up
to the situation, or ‘speaks the truth’ as the monster encourages him to do.
Patrick Ness writes beautifully and with
such compassion considering the subject material. I was not surprised to see
from the inside cover leaf that the book has won many awards including the
major prize of the CILIP Carnegie Medal. No matter what your age it deserves a
read.
A
Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. Published by Walker
Books.
