A review by klsreads
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit