A Monster Calls

Name: A Monster Calls
Author: Patrick Ness

Read with caution

Some content parents may want to preview or discuss.

Published: 2011
Ages: 12–16

About the book

A boy whose mother is dying of cancer is visited by a storytelling monster.

AI summary

A boy whose mother is dying of cancer is visited by a storytelling monster.

Why parents choose this book

What makes A Monster Calls worth choosing

An honest, parent-first look at who this book suits, what it offers, and what to know before you buy.

Best for

Age range: 12–16 (fits siblings across a range).
Reading maturity: Young adult — teen protagonists and more nuanced themes.
Kids who tend to love it: Fantasy, Contemporary.
Personality fit: big-imagination kids who love new worlds.

Parents love this book because

Written by Patrick Ness, whose books parents return to for consistently thoughtful storytelling.

Your child will probably enjoy A Monster Calls if they…

Love magic, dragons, or fantasy worlds

This book helps develop

Vocabulary, sustained attention, and reading confidence for the 12–16 age band.

Things parents should know

Violence: clear on-page conflict without lingering detail.
Language: clean language throughout.

Reading commitment

Estimated reading time

Varies by reader

Length

Length varies by edition

Difficulty

Young adult

Works as read-aloud

Usually read independently

Good for independent readers

Yes — suits confident readers in the age band

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Why we recommend it

We recommend A Monster Calls for the 12–16 age band with a small heads-up on content — worth previewing or discussing. It leans into fantasy in a way that feels genuine, not formulaic. Patrick Ness's voice is what makes it stick: readable, respectful of kids, and easy to hand to the next child in the family.