Reviews with content warning for Vomit - Un monstruo viene a verme

A Monster Calls is beautiful and devastating. This is a short story about truth, grief, and living with conflicting truths. For a kids'/YA book, it's absolutely brutal. The art is a perfect edition to this dark, modern, occasionally funny fairy tale. What can we control when monsters inevitably come knocking? Are they monsters at all?

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aryn456's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've first found out about this story through the movie, a most brilliant adaptation of the work. But the book was much better, in every conceivable way. From the impeccable writing style, to the twisted illustrations, the deeply complex characters and their relationships - a must read for any age group!
The book greatly goes into detail about the complexity of human nature, in a way that even children will understand and learn. And yet it does not get boring for anyone older than a child.
This story has brought me to tears twice now, and I am certain that it will do so again and again and again.

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fatfrog's review against another edition

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Too boring

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maeverose's review against another edition

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3.0

Conor’s grief presents in the form of anger, and leads to him having some very unhealthy and harmful coping mechanisms. While I completely understand that is how some people react to grief, and part of the point of the story was Conor having to learn to heal, I felt that the book focused almost solely on Conor’s feelings and I don’t feel like there was enough emphasis on him changing how he treated others. He kind of just got away with all the bad things he did to other people. Also, all the female characters in the book are framed as mean, or end up getting killed or dying. Lily being the only real exception. This annoyed me a bit.

Another mild thing that annoyed me, even though it was pointed out in the book, was how Conor’s parents wouldn’t be honest with him about what was happening. Yes Conor knew, but I think in a situation like that it’s much more helpful to be honest so your child can mentally prepare. Again, while the book did sort of acknowledge this it was still frustrating.

I do think this book has important messages about how everybody is complicated and our emotions are complicated and that’s okay, but I can’t say I enjoyed the overall reading experience.

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