Question 1

What is A Monster Calls about?

Accepted Answer

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness follows thirteen-year-old Conor O'Malley as he copes with his mother's terminal cancer diagnosis. Every night at 12:07 AM, a monster formed from a yew tree visits Conor and tells him three stories with complex moral lessons. Through these encounters, Conor confronts his deepest fear—not of the monster itself, but of the truth behind his recurring nightmare about letting his mother go.

Question 2

Who should read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness?

Accepted Answer

A Monster Calls is ideal for young adult and middle-grade readers navigating grief, loss, or family illness, as well as adults seeking a profound exploration of complex emotions. The book speaks powerfully to anyone experiencing cognitive dissonance around difficult situations—holding hope while accepting harsh realities. Readers who appreciate emotional depth, magical realism, and stories that tackle uncomfortable truths with honesty will find this deeply moving.

Question 3

Is A Monster Calls worth reading?

Accepted Answer

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is absolutely worth reading for its raw, honest portrayal of grief and the psychological turmoil children face during parental loss. The book masterfully balances fantasy elements with profound emotional truths, teaching that humans can believe contradictory things simultaneously without shame. Its exploration of denial, acceptance, and cognitive dissonance offers valuable insights for readers of all ages dealing with loss or uncertainty.

Question 4

Who is Patrick Ness and why did he write A Monster Calls?

Accepted Answer

Patrick Ness is an award-winning novelist who wrote A Monster Calls based on an original idea by author Siobhan Dowd, who was terminally ill with cancer when she conceived the story. Ness took Dowd's concept and crafted it into a complete novel, honoring her vision while exploring the profound complexities of grief and acceptance. His writing depicts mourning not as a linear process but as something people grapple with repeatedly throughout their journey.

Question 5

What does the monster symbolize in A Monster Calls?

Accepted Answer

The monster in A Monster Calls embodies both terrifying and comforting aspects, reflecting the duality of human emotions associated with grief and truth-telling. Described as a version of the Green Man formed from a yew tree, the monster represents Conor's own psychological need to confront uncomfortable truths he cannot face alone. The monster's presence at 12:07 AM signifies that moment when defenses drop and raw emotions surface, ultimately helping Conor move from isolation to acceptance.

Question 6

What are the main themes in A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness?

Accepted Answer

A Monster Calls explores:

*   **Denial** as Conor refuses to use words like "cancer" or "death" despite knowing his mother won't survive.
*   **Cognitive dissonance**—simultaneously hoping for recovery while recognizing inevitable loss—and how this contradiction generates guilt.
*   **Isolation** pervades Conor's experience as classmates treat him differently after learning about his mother's illness.
*   Finally, **acceptance** emerges not as a final stage but as something Conor must grapple with repeatedly before finding relief.

Question 7

What are the three stories the monster tells in A Monster Calls?

Accepted Answer

The monster tells three tales demonstrating the moral complexities of human nature. The first story involves a prince who murders his lover and blames a witch-queen, teaching that life doesn't always have clear "good guys" and "bad guys". The second story features a pious parson who abandons his beliefs to save his daughters, ridiculing those who sacrifice principles at the first challenge. Each tale challenges Conor's black-and-white thinking, preparing him to accept the contradictory emotions within himself.

Question 8

Why does the monster visit Conor at 12:07 AM in A Monster Calls?

Accepted Answer

The monster arrives at 12:07 AM—seven minutes past midnight—representing the liminal space between day and night, consciousness and dreams. This specific time symbolizes when defenses weaken and buried truths surface. Significantly, Conor's mother passes away at exactly 12:07 AM, the same time the monster typically appeared. The timing reinforces that the monster exists to help Conor process what he cannot face during waking hours, bridging his conscious denial and unconscious acceptance.

More like this

Key takeaways

When the Monster Comes Calling at Midnight

A Life Unraveling Thread by Thread

Tales That Defy Simple Morality

The Boy No One Sees

The Tree That Poisons and Heals

The Truth That Haunts the Darkness

To Hold On Is to Let Go

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness Summary

Overview of A Monster Calls

Similar books to A Monster Calls

More like this

Key takeaways

When the Monster Comes Calling at Midnight

A Life Unraveling Thread by Thread

Tales That Defy Simple Morality

The Boy No One Sees

The Tree That Poisons and Heals

The Truth That Haunts the Darkness

To Hold On Is to Let Go

Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to A Monster Calls Summary in 8 Minutes

Flash Card Mode - Top 10 Insights from A Monster Calls in a Nutshell

Fun Mode - A Monster Calls Lessons Told Through 23-Min Stories

Personalize Mode - Read or listen to A Monster Calls Summary in 0 Minutes

Download A Monster Calls PDF

Download A Monster Calls EPUB