Patrick Ness is the author of A Monster Calls and More Than
This, both of which were awarded the Carnegie Medal, as well as the
critically acclaimed and best-selling Chaos Walking trilogy. Among
the numerous awards he has received are the Guardian Children’s
Fiction Prize, the Booktrust Teenage Prize, and the Costa
Children’s Book Award. Born in Virginia, he lives in London.
Siobhan Dowd spent twenty years as a human rights campaigner
before her first novel, A Swift Pure Cry, was published in 2006.
She won the Carnegie Medal posthumously in 2009 after her death
from breast cancer, in 2007.
Jim Kay is the illustrator of Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls
as well as The Great War: Stories Inspired by Items from the First
World War, an anthology of short stories. Jim Kay studied
illustration and worked in the archives of the Tate Gallery and the
Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, two experiences that have influenced
his work. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Profoundly moving, expertly crafted tale… a singular masterpiece,
exceptionally well-served by Kay's atmospheric and ominous
illustrations… tackles the toughest of subjects by refusing to
flinch, meeting the ugly truth about life head-on with compassion,
bravery, and insight.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
There’s no denying it: this is one profoundly sad story. But it’s
also wise, darkly funny and brave, told in spare sentences,
punctuated with fantastic images and stirring silences. Past his
sorrow, fright and rage, Conor ultimately lands in a place — an
imperfect one, of course — where healing can begin. A MONSTER CALLS
is a gift from a generous storyteller and a potent piece of
art.
—The New York Times
A nuanced tale that draws on elements of classic horror stories to
delve into the terrifying terrain of loss. . . . Ness brilliantly
captures Conor’s horrifying emotional ride as his mother’s
inevitable death approaches. In an ideal pairing of text and
illustration, the novel is liberally laced with Kay’s evocatively
textured pen-and-ink artwork, which surrounds the text, softly
caressing it in quiet moments and in others rushing toward the
viewer with a nightmarish intensity.A poignant tribute to the life
and talent of Siobhan Dowd and an astonishing exploration of
fear.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
A brilliantly executed, powerful tale.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
Ness twists out a resolution that is revelatory in its obviousness,
beautiful in its execution, and fearless in its honesty. Kays
artwork keeps the pace, gnawing at the edges of the pages with
thundercloud shadows and keeping the monster just barely, terribly
seeable.
—Booklist (starred review)
A masterpiece about life and loss that will stay with the reader
long after the final page is turned.
—Library Media Connection (starred review)
The heavily textured monochromatic illustrations are silent
screams, rendering Conor's inner chaos palpable with dense shading
and jagged edges symbolizing the wildness within while shifting
perspectives alternately create intimacy and distance, like the
push and pull he feels as he tries to stay engaged in an impossibly
painful situation… Emotionally wrenching, this draws truth across
pain in a way that is accessible to middle-school readers.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Heart-wrenching and thought-provoking.
—The Horn Book
Patrick Ness is an insanely beautiful writer.
—TIME Magazine
The power of this beautiful and achingly sad story for readers over
the age of 12 derives not only from Mr. Ness's capacity to write
heart-stopping prose but also from Jim Kay's stunning black-ink
illustrations. There are images in these pages so wild and ragged
that they feel dragged by their roots from the deepest realms of
myth.
—Wall Street Journal
The monster is a brilliant creation — part giant, part yew tree,
destructive, didactic, elemental...The book has the thrills and
ambition you would expect from the author of the Chaos Walking
trilogy...Ness, Dowd, Kay and Walker have rifled death's pockets
and pulled out a treasure.
—The Guardian
Featured/recommended on Oprah's 2012 Kids Reading List
—Oprah.com
An honest, heart-wrenching story that moved me to tears.
—John Boyne (author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)
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