A Monster CallsA Monster Calls
Score Modern
What it's about
Patrick Ness's novel is the story of a boy, his seriously ill mother and an unexpected, monstrous visitor that comes to him at night. Unflinching, darkly funny and deeply moving, it's illustrated with stunning artwork by Jim Kay.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It's one of the most powerful books about grief written for any age.
You'll love it if you liked
The Knife of Never Letting Go
The Book Thief
The Ocean at the End of the LaneGood to know
It's short and devastating. The illustrated edition is the one to read.
By the numbers
- Readers94 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics41 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller32 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #23 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #55 of the 504 fantasy books we rank
- #220 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #463 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Patrick Ness
If you like this, read next
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Six of Crows
A Court of Thorns and Roses
The Golden Compass
A Dog's Purpose
LegendbornExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is A Monster Calls worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It ranks #463 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Monster Calls about?
Patrick Ness's novel is the story of a boy, his seriously ill mother and an unexpected, monstrous visitor that comes to him at night. Unflinching, darkly funny and deeply moving, it's illustrated with stunning artwork by Jim Kay.
How long does it take to read A Monster Calls?
About 6 hours (226 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Monster Calls?
If you liked it, try The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak or The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.