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A Monster Calls

Patrick Ness

First published May 2011
Type Novel
Series A Monster Calls

Conor O'Malley, 13, has a recurring dream that ends in terror: his mother leaves him forever. He is bullied at school, harassed by his grandmother, and ignored by his father who lives in America. Conor's mother is dying, and everyone knows it. Classmates give him a wide berth, teachers pity him. When a monster calls Conor to his window, he replies “Shout all you want, I've seen worse.” The monster tells 3 parables full of tough decisions and characters beyond the simple stereotypes of good and evil. And after the last one, Conor will have to tell his story. “Not just any truth. Your truth.” Otherwise, the beast will eat him alive.

"From an original idea by Siobhan Dowd" Winner of Kate Greenaway Medal 2012 (illustrator Jim Kay) Winner of Carnegie Medal 2012 (writer Patrick Ness)

YearAwardCategoryStatus
2011 Bram Stoker Award Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel Nominee/Finalist
2011 Goodreads Choice Awards Middle Grade & Children's Nominee/Finalist
2012 Carnegie Medal for Writing Carnegie Medal Winner
2012 Locus Poll Award Best Young Adult Book Nominee/Finalist
2012 The Kitschies Red Tentacle (Best Novel) Winner

Date Publication Publisher Type Page
May 2011 A Monster Calls Walker Books (UK) Novel
September 2011 Cover A Monster Calls Candlewick Press Novel
September 2011 Cover A Monster Calls Candlewick Press Novel
November 2011 Cover A Monster Calls Walker Books (UK) Novel
April 2012 Cover Quelques minutes après minuit Gallimard Jeunesse Novel
September 2012 Cover A Monster Calls Walker Books (UK) Novel
March 2013 Cover A Monster Calls Candlewick Press Novel
March 2013 Cover A Monster Calls Turtleback Books Novel
August 2013 A Monster Calls Turtleback Books Novel
August 2013 Cover A Monster Calls Candlewick Press Novel
August 2013 Cover A Monster Calls Candlewick Press Novel
May 2015 Cover A Monster Calls Walker Books (UK) Novel
August 2015 Cover A Monster Calls Candlewick Press Novel
August 2016 Cover A Monster Calls Candlewick Press Novel
September 2016 Cover A Monster Calls Walker Books (UK) Novel
October 2016 Cover A Monster Calls Candlewick Press Novel
October 2016 Cover A Monster Calls Walker Books (UK) Novel
April 2020 A Monster Calls Thorndike Press Novel
May 2020 Cover A Monster Calls Thorndike Press Novel