Should you judge a book by it's cover? In this case you would suspect that this is a dark tale. And it is. You would consider it is maybe a child's book, one with monsters. And it is. But it is far more than that. To consider it solely as a young adults or childs book would put some people (like myself) off reading it. This is a great book, with great illustrations. Yes, there are far more illustrations inside. If you are put off because it is classified as childrens reading, don't be. BUT if you like the cover, just buy it!

I read this in 1 sitting and spent 80% of the time crying. A sad story with so much meaning

There’s not much to say about this novel that hasn’t already been said. It is a beautifully written and illustrated piece of work. It was very short and I managed to read it over a couple of nights but it will definitely stay with me for a long time. It was also, ultimately, a rather simple story, one about a boy and his mum, together coping with her illness. Everyone has been touched by grief at some point in their lives and everyone will relate to Conor throughout this novel as he tries to comprehend and come to terms with his feelings and emotions. A wonderfully poignant book.

I have experienced equal quantities of dread and delight whilst anticipating A Monster Calls, a novel which is the joint venture of two highly acclaimed authors of YA fiction. I've been dreading it as it will be my last experience of the wonderful writing of Siobhan Dowd who died in 2007 aged 47. Siobhan was the author of four brilliant novels, two of which were published posthumously and she had penned some notes for a new book which culiminated in Patrick Ness taking the baton and producing the thing of beauty which is A Monster Calls. So was it to be a Dowd or a Ness novel, whose influence would be felt the most? To tell the truth, it's different from anything either author has produced before. Yes, I felt Siobhan's touch at times but this really feels like a one-off, an original masterpiece. In just over 200 pages, Patrick Ness weaves the tale of Conor O'Malley, a 13 year old only child who has a battle on his hands. His single mother is nearing the end of her fight with cancer and Conor has a well meaning grandmother whose good intentions only end up estranging him further. His father has remarried, now living in the US and is in the clutches of a jealous new wife complete with new baby and he hardly wants the added troubles of his teenage son. Meanwhile, at school, the only people who really notice Conor are the bullies - everyone else is busily tip-toeing around the elephant in the room/playground. If that wasn't enough, a monster comes a-calling, in the shape of a yew tree - yew trees are symbolic of everlasting life and healing but this particular specimen doesn't seem very friendly. This is one of the most powerful, compelling books I have ever read. If you have ever experienced bereavement or even have the slightest human interest in other folks' emotions, you will adore A Monster Calls. Its simplicity and lyricism is perfectly balanced by the stark black and white illustrations by Jim Kay. You must get the "real" hard back edition, not the "pretend" e book version, this is a book which has to be caressed and treasured. It's a harrowing read, brutal in its honesty, never veering into mawkishness. I have a feeling that Siobhan's novels will have a much deserved renaissance with a whole new influx of readers and I, in turn, must pick up Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking trilogy which has languished on my bookshelves for long enough now...

A sad but lovely story.....a good read for older children.