Mothers and sons · Single-parent families · Fiction
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
2011224 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 4.7 (33)
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What is A Monster Calls about?
A brilliant, graphic novel written by young but promising Patrick Ness. This is the story about 13 year old Conor and his mother who is dying of cancer. Conor has to face the cruelty of real life and learn to let his close and dearest go. When no human can help him Monster appears...
A glimpse inside
Grief as a Living Presence
The novel personifies grief through the monster, a towering yew tree that visits Conor at night. This embodiment allows the story to explore grief not as a static state but as a force that intrudes, demands attention, and refuses to be ignored. The monster’s presence is both terrifying and strangely comforting, reflecting how grief can be overwhelming yet necessary for healing.
The Power and Danger of Truth
A central theme is the importance of facing uncomfortable truths. The monster insists that Conor tell his 'truth,' which is messier and more painful than he wants to admit. The book suggests that real healing begins when we confront our deepest fears and honest feelings, even when they contradict what we wish we felt.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 4.7 / 5
33 ratings
✦
Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1Grief as a Living Presence
- 2The Power and Danger of Truth
- 3Stories as Tools for Understanding
- 4Isolation and the Need for Connection
- 5Letting Go and Acceptance
Popular quotes from A Monster Calls
“Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?”
“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.”
“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”
Frequently asked
A brilliant, graphic novel written by young but promising Patrick Ness. This is the story about 13 year old Conor and his mother who is dying of cancer. Conor has to face the cruelty of real life and learn to let his close and dearest go. When no human can help him Monster appears...