Book Review: "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements and just...just gut-wrenching shock and horror and awe. SO WORTH IT.

Rarely have I been more impressed by a book. Being an incurable cover-judger, I was initially skeptical (the colors are, after all, quite close to the ever-dreaded red/black/white color scheme that is the hallmark of many books I loathe). However, I am absolutely delighted to have been proven wrong in this case. Then again, the colors describe the book perfectly. It is gut-wrenching, terrifying, contemplative, sad, and reactionary.

You know what it's like? It is like Patrick Ness took the pure and unadulterated essences of pain and fear and grief and guilt and put them into words and stark pictures. Everything is shown, not told. That's what makes this book so powerful. It's beautiful and powerful and difficult and impossible and healing--all at the same time. I will say it again: It is like Patrick Ness took the pure essence of emotion and reaction and condensed them into this short book.

I highly recommend this. If you or someone you know is struggling with just about anything, you need this in your life--and it is a quick read, too; it's not a 500-page monster (as much as I love those most of the time).

Read it. You'll be glad you did, even when you are curled up sobbing or in shock at the end.

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