From the Bookshelf of Crazy Challenge Connection…

A Monster Calls

Patrick Ness,

Jim Kay (Illustrator)

Why we're reading this: Although it's officially a children's book, it is one of the most heart-rendering and powerful books I've…more
[close] Although it's officially a children's book, it is one of the most heart-rendering and powerful books I've ever read! And the artwork is amazing!

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Oct 14, 2016 Madge rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade-children, all-time-favorites, fantasy, life-ruiners

Well, I'm not ok after reading this omg. This was a horrible story, and by "horrible," I mean it tore out my heart, ripped it to shreds, stomped on the pieces, then gathered them up in a bin and offered them back to me. Like I can just put the pieces back together and be fine.

I knew basically nothing going into this book, even though it's been on my tbr for a long time. How I avoided spoilers or even having a basic idea of what it was about is still a mystery. The only thing I knew was that it w ...more

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Feb 14, 2018 Rebecca rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dtb-reads, young-adult, short-and-sweet, 2016-2021-reads

I downloaded an iPhone app today that randomly reminds you that you are going to die. Five times a day the reminder pops up. When I first heard of this app I laughed to myself in a most sardonic fashion, and thought "Can you imagine?! Who would want five reminders of that a day! Three maybe . . . but five?!" The interesting thing is . . . it actually works. Maybe I am in a strange, open-minded state lately, but randomly being reminded that "Hey! This is all going to end!", has so far made me act I downloaded an iPhone app today that randomly reminds you that you are going to die. Five times a day the reminder pops up. When I first heard of this app I laughed to myself in a most sardonic fashion, and thought "Can you imagine?! Who would want five reminders of that a day! Three maybe . . . but five?!" The interesting thing is . . . it actually works. Maybe I am in a strange, open-minded state lately, but randomly being reminded that "Hey! This is all going to end!", has so far made me actually feel more relaxed. More open to just enjoying the moment. More excited to engage in fun, self-care type activities I may previously have deemed "selfish" and "pointless", because actually, who cares? I am just going to die in the end anyway! Might as well enjoy it while it lasts!

It has been about 7.5 hours since I downloaded the app, yet somehow, I am changed.

Kind of like how I felt after I finished reading A Monster Calls. The discerning reader can see where this book is going. There isn't really much cloaking the ultimate conclusion of the main story line. The biggest guessing game that preoccupied me through-out my reading of this book was what the twisty, turny, "gotcha!" surprise of who/what the Monster was would wind up being. And when I got to the end I found myself exceptionally disappointed. "That's it?" I thought. Sad, to be sure . . . but trans-formative? Not so much. Why so many people absolutely loved the book completely escaped me.

Then about 15 minutes later, while hand washing my dishes that evening, it actually hit me. The gut-wrenching truth of who/what Conor's monster was. And then I cried. Those really good, cathartic tears of release. Which was exactly what I had hoped the experience of reading this book would do for me. I'm not the only one who sometimes picks books because she needs a good cry, right?

I rate this book 4-stars because I'm not sure the target age group of this book would fully comprehend the deeper meaning of the Monster, and the impact of the ending, without a more mature individual to discuss this with. But maybe I am underestimating younger people. I also try to reserve 5-star ratings for books I could envision myself reading again, and while A Monster Calls has certainly stuck with me since I finished it (a little over a month now), I do not foresee myself rereading it. Jim Kay's illustrations are gorgeous, and this book is definitely worth the time to read at least once. ...more

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