Synopsis: Life has been hard for Shell since the death of her mam. Her dad has turned his back on reality leaving her to care for her brother and sister. When she can escape, she sees her best friend Bridie and the charming, persuasive Declan, sharng cigarettes and irreverent jokes. Shell is drawn to the kindness of Father Rose, a young priest, but soon finds herself at the centre of an escalating scandal that rocks the small Irish community to its foundations.
So the reason I picked this book up is A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. If you haven’t read it, the illustrated edition, then do so immediately. On the cover it says ‘From an original idea by Siobhan Dowd’. There’s more info in the extended edition which came out after the film was released, though sadly I have not been able to get my hands on a copy.
It wasn’t exactly what I expected. The synopsis on goodreads was filled with spoilers, and I’m glad I hadn’t read it before finishing the book. The synopsis I’ve put in above is from the back cover of the copy I read.
This is an emotionally charged book. I’m still not sure what to make of it. Siobhan Dowd doesn’t take the easy road. There are a few places where shortcuts could have been made, and Siobhan chose to take the hard road. It’s a better and more interesting book because of it. Shell isn’t one for cutting corners either. She’s a strong person. Vulnerable at times too though, and at others easily led or self-destructive.
The mystery aspect wasn’t terribly hard to figure out, though there was one attempt at misdirection which caught for a moment.
This is a well-written book which confronts serious issues and doesn’t condescend to or conceal truth from a teenage audience.
Yes.
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