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A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a haunting and heartbreaking story based on an idea by children’s author Siobhan Dowd, who passed away from cancer before being able to write the story herself.
The novel’s protagonist is 13-year old Conor O’Malley. Ever since his mother was diagnosed with cancer, Conor has been having the same nightmare over and over again. Conor doesn’t want to tell anyone about the nightmare; he doesn’t even want to think about it. He blocks it out as he endures days of going to school amidst bullying and isolation and nights of hoping for a miracle that may never come.
All that is about to change as he looks out his bedroom window one night and sees a monster standing there. This monster isn’t like other monsters. It’s part scary giant, part ancient yew tree that stands in Conor’s front yard. And it only wants one thing: to tell Conor three true stories in exchange for Conor’s own truth–the one he dreams about night after night.
Though it may seem like just a simple monster story on the surface, A Monster Calls is much more than that. The book is also a testament to the burdens of responsibility, loss, and grief. Although a dark story, where the reader can feel and taste Conor’s pain and fear, the book is also about family, hope, and love. It’s about the love between a son and his mother. The hope that keeps both of them alive and won’t let them give up. Among all the darkness, the novel offers real beauty and light.
The startling, gripping black and white illustrations by Jim Kay are as integral to the story as the words on the pages. They seem to leap out of the book. A mixture of relief printing, black pen and ink, and various printed textures, the pictures grab your attention and add to the story’s dark and somber mood.
A Monster Calls is a darkly lovely book that will have you thinking about it long after you finish its pages. Still not convinced? Check out this cool book trailer:
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I picked up the new book Sparrow Road mainly because it takes place during the summer (though the pretty, colorful cover also helped). It’s actually the summer before seventh grade for Raine O’Rourke. Instead of being able to spend it helping out at her Grandpa Mac’s store and eating all the candy that she wants, Raine’s mom moves her to Sparrow Road, a mysterious retreat for a group of eccentric artists. Raine is upset about living in a country town where she doesn’t know anyone and curious about why her mom apparently quit her job to take a position as cook and housekeeper at Sparrow Road. To make it worse, Sparrow Road has all sorts of rules. No talking until 5 p.m. No disturbing the artists while they work. Raine is sure she will have a miserable summer. 
As summer looms on the horizon, Judy Moody has big plans to make it a great one. In fact, thanks to her carefully drawn out diagrams, it will be the most “NOT bummer summer ever.” Her plans come to a halt as first her friends inform her they have plans and won’t be around and then her parents head off to California, leaving Judy and Stink with their unknown, dreaded Aunt Opal (quickly nicknamed Aunt Awful, of course). But when she arrives, with her long red hair, bright blue boots, and cool bracelets, Aunt Opal is nothing like Judy imagined. As Judy gears up for a summer with her wacky, artistic Aunt, an intriguing mystery about her teacher Mr. Todd, a late night stakeout, and a high-speed chase involving an ice cream truck and Bigfoot follow. This novel, based on the screenplay to the recent 
