Florence (Lefty) MacIntosh's Reviews > A Monster Calls

Minute I saw Jim Kay’s cover illustration I knew I’d read this. Edgy, his use of rapid, almost angry slashing strokes and a palette of grey capturing the tone that permeates this novel to perfection. Young adult but read it anyway, only takes a few hours and does what the best fables do, speaks to all ages. It never lets up from this hook of an opening line “The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do.” In the category of contemporary fairy tales I’m putting this right up there with Coraline– and I’m nuts about Neil Gaimen.
I envied Conor his monsters; how useful it would be to distill your fears into something palatable that you could then face head on. While this story deals with bullying and Conor’s terror of losing his mother, just insert your own personal demons. We all wrestle with accepting things beyond our control, maybe Conor’s monsters can teach you a few tricks. It’s dark but it’s also hopeful - he comes out the other side.
I’ll never outgrow fairytales, especially those with a lesson or a moral. “There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.” Admire their clarity – sometimes need the obvious spelt out. In this one the monster tells three tales, each is ponder worthy:) Good twist that the fourth is left for Conor to tell.
Cons: I dislike having my guts wrenched, thought the author went a little overboard pulling the old heartstrings. Unfair I know considering the tough subjects it tackles. So I’m knocking off a 1/2 a star and rounding it to 5. It's worthy.

“You do not write your life with words” the monster said. “You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.”