A Monster has come walking. A Monster as old as time. He expects an answer to a question. He wants the truth from a young boy called Conor O’Malley, but Conor won’t give it. Conor’s truth is too terrible to face.

He has been having a nightmare about his mum who is receiving treatment for cancer. Now on their own since his dad left for America two years before, Conor does as much as he can for them both. While his mum is resting, he’s become good at preparing them an easy meal at night and getting himself off to school after breakfast every day. His busy real estate agent grandma is on hand when they need her, but she and Conor don’t see eye to eye.

The Monster arrives just as a nightmare wakes Conor again. It’s 12.07pm. The Monster peers in Conor’s bedroom window, but Conor isn’t scared, and tells it so. It reappears another night, then another. Conor wants to know why.

‘I will tell you three stories,’ says The Monster. ‘Three tales from when I walked before…’

‘…stories are the wildest things of all…stories chase and bite and hunt.’

‘…you will tell me a fourth, and it will be the truth.’

These three stories are told as Conor navigates the worry and guilt of his secret, the fear then resignation of school bullies, and the betrayal of his best friend. People around him all seem keen to give him, ‘the talk’ but Conor doesn’t want to listen.

Conor lashes out at home and school, or was it the Monster who did it? Conor’s nightmares, both asleep and awake build around him.

Mum is in hospital again.

Dad arrives from America.

Conor goes to stay with Grandma.

Soon he can’t avoid it any longer. He must tell his story – his truth. The Monster demands it!

I have read this story three times. Three times I have needed (a lot) of tissues at the end. For me, the emotion that this book invokes in me, even though I think I am prepared for it, makes this my favourite book ever.

Conor is trying to be so brave, and doesn’t fear The Monster because he is facing something so much more scary. Add a thick layer of guilt and he is a mess. The Monster brings him out of that mess to face his nightmare and secret in a careful, clever way, showing Conor and the reader that people are multi-faceted, complicated, and not all good, or all bad.

The writing is beautiful but not flowery. The emotion is raw on the page with not only Conor but those around him, all trying to be strong for him. Grab your tissues, pore over the artwork by Jim Kay (if you are lucky enough to be reading the illustrated original), immerse yourself into the story, and if you can’t help it (like me), sob your heart out at the end.

Winner of both the prestigious Carnegie Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration in 2012, it also won Book of the Year and many more awards.

Author – Patrick Ness

Illustrator – Jim Kay

Age – 10+

Read more book reviews of Patrick Ness novels

(2012, Walker Books, Story within story, Conflict, Courage, Family, Illness, Grief, Loss, Multi Award Winner, Anger, Blame, Guilt, Monster, Grandmother, Bully, Bullies, School, Betrayal, Fantasy, Growing Up, Love, Secret)