Review | A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

About:
Title:A Monster Calls
Author: Patrick Ness
Publication Date:September 27th 2011
Format:Hardcover, 215 pages
Rating:

Description:
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.

Review

This book was totally not what I was expecting when I first picked it up but it definitely did not ;disappoint. The original idea for this novel was by Siobhan Dowd but sadly she passed away before it's completion. So it was then passed over to Patrick Ness. The story is told through Conors point of you. Conor is having to deal with his mother's illness and the relentless bullying he has to endure at school. I don't really know how to explain my reasons for liking this book; I just do.The book itself is beautiful. I love the illustrations by Jim Kay, I think they complemented the story very well. A points in the story I got the feeling that Conor made up and used the "monster" as an excuse for his behaviour but you never really find out. The book is aimed at younger readers but I think older readers will be able to enjoy the story. I first heard of Patrick Ness through his novel "More Than This" And after reading this I will be sure to go out and purchase his other books. I feel this review is a bit lacking and all other the place as I just can't express my reasoning very well but I would definitely recommend it to readers into fantasy or mystery.