Reviews tagging 'Violence'

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

50 reviews

queenneehola's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Bullying

aryn456's review against another edition

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Mental illness, Violence, Vomit, and Medical content

maeverose's review against another edition

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.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Misogyny and Sexual content

A note on the cancer: Conor’s mother’s diagnosis is never named, but it definitely seems to be coded as cancer. A note on the schizophrenia: Conor doesn’t have schizophrenia in the book, the monster is just a magical realism representation of his grief, but there are definitely scenes where it could appear similar to a psychosis episode

actioncat's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Terminal illness, Violence, and Death of parent

iane_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pandemic/Epidemic

saskiahill's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence and Grief

unomi57's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer and Violence

cosmicpanda's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Violence, Medical content, and Death of parent

tifftastic87's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Synopsis
Conor's mom is sick, like really sick, and everyone knows it is the end, except for him. When his mom is admitted to the hospital, a strange thing happens with the yew tree in the backyard. It comes to Conor at night and tells him there will be an exchange of tales, three from the monster and one from Conor. That's when things start to spiral.

Overt Grief
Lately, I have really been about stories with grief. This one really hit the mark. I know this is a middle grade (maybe early YA) book, but damn the imagery - both the words and the art - really expressed how Conor was feeling. It was frustrating, reading this as an adult, and seeing none of the other adults be honest with him about what was happening. We constantly underestimate children's abilities to understand the world around them and expect that they don't feel emotions how we do, when they are usually feeling them much, much stronger.

Story Length
Honestly, I kind of wish this were a longer book. I would have like a little more detail in the monster's stories, a little more back story on some of the characters, and perhaps even a short epilogue. That's my major qualm, is the story felt rushed when it didn't need to be and I felt it should have given space to some of the themes that required a little bit more.

Content Warnings
Detailed descriptions of bullying, grief, loss of a parent, cancer, and medical situations.
Moderate descriptions of violence. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence and Blood

Minor: Murder

lectora21's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual content