Patrick Ness has amazed me with his writing in the past (his Chaos Walking series is still a book series I recommend to those who enjoy YA Dystopian like myself). A Monster calls, while completely different – still rang true with the unique writing style of Ness that I find irresistible. ~Sheila
13-year-old Conner is having nightmares. His nightmares in fact are so dark that he dare not speak them out loud. So when the Yew Tree comes to him at night furiously pounding on the walls of Conner’s house, Conner proclaims he is not scared, he has seen worse.
Yet the Yew tree returns to his again and again, big and looming with a message that he claims had been beckoned by Conner himself. Although Conner claims that he could not have possibly called upon the tree.
Conner’s mother is sick with Cancer and his Grandmother is making herself a little too at home for Conner’s liking. When Conner’s father shows up after a long absence Conner starts to wonder how seriously sick is mom, and does anything going on with her or what is happening at school have to do with the trees visits?
While you may say this is a children’s book – I believe this book offers so much more. I found the writing to be deep, profound, and engaging. The symbolism of the tree touched me. Perhaps I was just in the right frame of mind to read – but I sat down Sunday afternoon and finished this that same afternoon. It messed me up a bit emotionally, but Patrick Ness tends to do that anyway.
I look forward to seeing the movie.
The Bookies Book Club had a good discussion around this book. Discussions of dealing with loss and letting ago of were tapped into. For the most part we agreed it was a unique read, and while most of us enjoyed the book, a few did not. Thus the beauty of a book club. ♥
We also had great food. Early on in the book Conner and his mother are eating an Indian Dish called Chicken Vindaloo. In this part of the book it is described as “they ate great plates of this and were farting and laughing by the time they got to the car.”
Of course I was curious about the dish and had to make it, teasing the Bookies that I was seeing if it would have the same effect on us. As far as I know it did not, however we did not eat large plates of it (although I think I could have – it was pretty tasty. 😉
Great night with the Bookies. A book I would recommend and would love to hear your thoughts on. The movie is out and I am looking to give that a try as well.