Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover

If I'd seen this book in the library, I would have walked right past it. This does not look like my kind of book. But I was intrigued when a friend, whose judgement I respect and trust, gave it five stars (which she seldom does) and said it's "just about perfect."

So I checked it out.

A Monster Calls is very compelling. I found myself picking it up whenever I could sneak in a minute or two (or 15 or 60). Spencer had a bunch of friends over this afternoon. I was reading in the living room, but had to discreetly get up and go in my bedroom when the tears started. I couldn't help it. I knew if I had to talk to anyone, I'd be a disaster. I pretty much cried through the last fourth of the book. I had decided I'd like to read it aloud with Soren, but I quickly realized there were parts where I would not be able to talk through the tears.

The illustrations throughout are beautifully haunting, and completely appropriate for the story.

Here is the book description from Goodreads:

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

I know how it looks, but A Monster Calls isn't scary. It's just very honest and real. And sad. And completely unique. I'm not sure I've ever read a book like it before.

If you read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

{Recommended for ages 12+.}