A Monster Calls – A case for non epic, emotional storytelling

So much of the time with realistic YA books, the “problem” in the narrative feels so immense and epic that finding a satisfying conclusion to said problem poses extra challenges for the author.   Some meet the challenge while many falter.  Part of the problem is that when kids are saving the world, their feelings often seem irrelevant. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness feels like epic storytelling, but when you stand back and look at it, it’s a story about a boy dealing with the impending death of his mother from a serious disease.  There is really nothing unusual about that event, it happens frequently unfortunately.  Yet, the gratifying thing about the book is that it is an emotional and epic event for the boy, Conor.  Surpisingly, this smaller scale problem makes all the difference.

As Conor’s world changes, he calls on an ancient monster to save his mother.  When the monster comes in the shape of walking, talking Yew tree – the tree proceeds to “help” Conor deal with his various problems, usually with extreme violence.  The tree also relates stories to Conor in order to make points to the boy that everything is not always as it seems.  Good things happen to bad people while the bad things can often happen to the good.  As the story progressed, I had to question whether the fantastical elements of the story were really happening or if they were all part of Conor’s coping with his immense sadness.  By adding elements of magical realism to the plot, it’s unlikely Ness could have found a more effective way to relate the deep emotional turmoil Conor is going through. When it’s time for Conor to deal with his mother’s fate, the tears are earned.   The use of illustrations in the novel also add to the horror and fantasy of the tale.  I can easily imagine a movie being made of this by Guillermo del Toro a la Pan’s Labyrinth.  Ness and del Toro are mining the same nightmarish vein in their tales.

A Monster Calls is emotional storytelling on a level that I haven’t experienced in the YA books I’ve been reading this year. It’s a sad book, yes, but if you’re looking for something more than an escape, a book that makes you identify with a character and feel true emotion, A Monster Calls might be what you need.  Any middle or high schooler can read this, though the reader needs to prepared for an intense reading experience.