Book Review: A Monster Calls

Recommended to me by a friend and praised by so many others, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a perfect creation. If you haven’t read it yet, I cannot recommend it enough.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Jim Kay, Siobhan Dowd
Published by Walker Books on September 27th 2011
Genres: Fantasy, Horror
Pages: 216
Format: Paperback
Goodreads

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.
It wants the truth.

solitude, sickness, love

I will not cheapen this book by talking about why you should read it, what it’s about, or what makes it so unique. I will tell you that it is a beautiful, perfectly composed, and eerily illustrated tale that I would recommend it to everyone.

It is books like this that remind me how powerful the story-telling ability is in some, and how receptive and tender the human soul can be.

This book is being made into a movie, but don’t wait for the movie (which truthfully will pale in comparison to the elegant and poignant simplicity of this story and its illustrations), go read it right now. You can easily tackle it in an afternoon. Fair warning: you may shed a tear or two.

How can I be expected to rate something I found so perfect?

Did you read this book? If not, have you read anything else like it as far as a story for young adults with so many illustrations? 

Get it here: Amazon. Barnes & Noble. The Book Depository.

A.S. Thornton

A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.