Reviews

What is this book? Part horror, part coming of age, part YA, part drama, part self help, part fantasy and all brilliance. It is amazing. It's a story of loss and a book, that although marketed to the Y.A. crowd, really spoke to me in a way that couldn't have spoken to me until I became a mother.

Connor O'Malley is a 13 year old boy whose mother is dying of cancer. His grandma is cold, and "not a good fit," his father is an absentee father who lives in the U.S. with his new family, and his schoolmates seem to either bully or ignore him. So he turns to a monster who takes the form of a Yew tree. This Yew tree takes to teaching him lessons via fables/stories. The boy doesn't appreciate the stories and his initial interactions w/ the monster tree are laugh out loud funny - in many ways reminding me of The Neverending Story and The Princess Bride. As we progress through the story, it gets darker and darker until it reaches the climax which is ugly cry sad.

At the heart of it, this book is about the fear of loss. And that is a thing I couldn't understand until 2 years ago. I was never feared loss until I became a mother to my son. Since then, I see this fear play out in many ways and nearly every day. I get on, but I would be lying to say that I didn't alter routes, change habits, and make decisions that I wouldn't have made if it affected only me. And the only thing I can really attribute this to is that I've developed a fear of loss. Without this fear, I'm not sure I could have connected this book in the way I do now. This was one of the best books I've come across in ages. Loved. Loved. Loved.

siiimo3's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

isisiis's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

how did 200 pages broke me this much.

to the point i think this has surpassed clockwork princess in terms of making me cry. dude i BAWLED, I ACTUALLY BAWLED, i had already finished the book like 10 minutes ago and i would think about it and keep crying, i cried for like 20 min without stop.

maybe reading this book wasnt the right choice for someone whos biggest fear is her family dying.

this was written so well, it was perfect. i loved the ending, it hurt but i loved it. the stories and everything, i loved it.

i tought i would put 4,5 when i was at the middle of the book, cause i was loving it but the last 50 pages affected me in a way i did not think was possible.

*read it in one sitting