A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness review-an insight into childhood trauma
A Monsters Calls tells the beautiful, heartfelt story of a young boy coming to terms with the inevitable death of his mother who’s in a losing battle with cancer. The book opens on a lonely thirteen-year-old named Connor waking from his usual nightmare, the nightmare. Patrick Ness gives us a glimpse of the ending here through the opening line ‘The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do’. This haunting statement foreshadows the harsh reality of what’s to come for Connor, 12:07, the moment the real monster comes out of its hiding place.
Soon after Connor wakes we are introduced to the yew tree, the mighty, all powerful, terrifying, monstrous yew tree, stood more alive than ever in Connor’s back garden. However, Connor’s reaction to the yew tree is not one of fear or shock, simply disappointment. It’s this marvellous disappointment of the giant, mighty monster standing before Connor that gives us our first insight into the deep suffering, courage, and fear that this young boy is experiencing. After all, what child wouldn’t be scared of a giant monster stood in their back garden? Exactly, one that must have seen worse.
After the yew tree comes walking we join Connor at breakfast. A thirteen-year-old ready 25 minutes before school, bag packed, shoes on, breakfast eaten, bowl and glass rinsed and in the dishwasher, rubbish taken out and a load of washing on. From beginning to end The Monster Calls opens the curtains on private scenes like these, where Connor’s childhood moments are snatched from him, replaced with the actions of adulthood. Even when Connor has woken from his nightmare, the monster has returned to the churchyard on the hill and his mother is up and about for once, it’s time for Connor to take on the next torment, school.
Harry (The ring leader and the meanest), Sully and Anton (mean and meaner) see to it that Connor’s school life is just as tormenting of that at home. To make life harder for Connor, his only friend Lily has now been classed as an enemy after ‘the talk’ saved for Connor was retold to Lily’s mum, then Lily, then everyone. Patrick Ness provides us with a front row seat to the constant bullying Connor suffers, but worst of all how Connor’s torment from Harry, Anton and Sully simply goes under the radar. Harry, Anton and Sully’s victimisation of Connor escapes the teachers, the parents, and the majority of students. Connor slowly becomes forgotten in his own tragedy, with a grandma that’s busy looking after her daughter (often leaving Connor to look after himself) and a father that’s traded him and his mother in for a fancy new family in America.
Although the yew tree is first presented as this monstrous being, we discover it is actually something rather magical. Creeping into Connor’s daily life this kind-hearted monster finds ways to give Connor strength, visibility and most importantly it shows him the truth rather than the lies Connor’s been feeding himself. Throughout this story Patrick Ness provides us with three heartrending tales, each one shown to Connor by the yew tree. These tales show us the importance of stories, as they all hold dear something Connor’s world lacks, honesty. These moving tales remind us of the harsh truths to the world: the universe doesn’t owe us anything, even when we feel cheated by it, to hold onto our kindness and our values, as they will be the ones to heals us, and that being invisible is painful but being seen and outwardly ignored is far worse.
Patrick Ness finishes this raw, brave story with a well needed emotional release from young Connor. Connor’s truth and the shame that came with it is tossed into the open. The final tale is now upon us, the real monster, the reoccurring nightmare, Connor’s truth. A young boy just wishing for the moment this cruel journey can reach it’s end and the healing can begin, even if it means losing his mother. The reason why the monster came walking is finally revealed, to heal Connor, to show him that we are only human, it is our actions that speak volumes, not our thoughts. In the last section of the book Patrick Ness creates a real understanding of the severe pain Connor is feeling, the guilt rising in his chest, patiently waiting for the punishment he believes he deserves. A Monster Calls explores the hidden depths of childhood trauma, giving us an insight into the pain children carry when faced with the death of a parent.
This beautifully painful story exposes the truths that we often forget, children aren’t blind to the cruel ways of the world. They know more than we think and they often blame themselves for the cards we are dealt. Patrick Ness highlights horror as a release for many children, literature a safe way of exploring these strange, scary situations. Many little readers often returning to the real world slightly less confused and their feet a bit closer to the ground. It’s no wonder children’s books such as Roald Dahl’s The Witches and Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are remain such a favourite, they aren’t afraid to explore the things children fear the most and understand the least. A Monster Calls opens us up to a world we can’t even begin to navigate, a story of the concealed beauty that comes with grief, the pain of letting go but the vital healing that can begin once we do.
