A Monster Calls Film, Book to Film Adaption

A Monster Calls book review

This 2016 adaption of Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls was alright. I'll make this quick review based on my thoughts about it being shown in a library or having it in the collection. 

Library Showing

I think the problem with this film is similar to what I also believe is an issue with the book (perhaps): most adults can enjoy it, because adults can theoretically relate to dying before their children. Teens, though, I think the book might not connect with everyone unless they are dealing with a parent that is ill. Honestly, I don't think I would have connected with the book at all when I was the target demographic. I'm fairly certain I would have found it childish. Like the film, there's something childish about Conor that I found off-putting. But as an adult, I can appreciate what he's going through. 

Ultimately, I don't think it would hold the interest of teens, unless you can find a group of them that WANT to see it together.

Library Collection 

Why not? I suppose someone might be upset by the bullying. It wouldn't go in the children's department, and I never hear of teens' sections having AV materials. There shouldn't be too much trouble putting it in the regular film collection. 

Other Thoughts

The three stories are animated instead of live action. I think the animation is good, but it's jarring. I get why they did it for the narrative, though. 

The monster was interesting. I suppose it is like most films where you get to see the monster up close and regularly: it becomes familiar and no longer frightening. 

There's a lot of scenes that adults get how good they were filmed.

I felt that it was an ok film, and I'm a little disappointed, but it did convey the story nicely. No reason not to include it in your collection, though it is a few years old now. I'm waiting on the Chaos Walking Trilogy to be filmed. 

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls film review 

Published: August 27th 2013
Publisher: Candlewick Press

Author's Website

Introduction

Every night at 12:07, a monster comes to13-year-old Conor. It wants stories, to tell them, and to hear them. The ancient creature wants Conor's story, a truth that the boy refuses to acknowledge. The monster began coming after Conor's mother started another round of treatments at the hospital. He has become That Kid, and he despises how other people treat him differently. Without his father in his life, he is left with his maternal grandmother, a woman detached from her grandson. And the monster continues to call, demanding to be heard.

Male Protagonist

I originally found Ness years ago when I was looking for books that have believable male main characters, preferably written by male authors. In this regard, this book doesn't disappoint. I appreciated that Conor, as a boy, handles his grief, and bullying, and family issues, differently compared to a girl. I suspect there's more literature with girl MCs in this genre. I find that sometimes male characters are written like tom-boy girls or the author's lay on the masculinity THICK. I recommend this for male readers who really don't want to read books with female leads. 

Essay Ideas/Grief and Mourning books

Without directly saying it in the novel, Conor's mom is going through cancer treatments. This may put this book on the "sick lit" category, but Ness handles this very delicately, and it is not the MC that is ill. Another book that it can be compared/contrasted to is Shoulder the Sky. I see that it is often on the same lists as The Fault in Our Stars, but Monster Calls is about when a parent has an illness. I think it would still be an excellent candidate for an essay discussion. 

Book Riot has a list of 6 YA Novels About Grief and Mourning that should be helpful. Aside from Fault, I haven't read them (though they are now on my Goodreads list). 

Other topics could be fear (about the future, mortality), family, and magical realism. An essay I would love to see would be looking at monsters in literature and their psychological symbolism (Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, dragons, dementors, Cthulhu, Mr. Hyde, zombies, etc.). 

Film

Update: I reviewed it here. For now, have a Gif from the film!

It's ok, it's just a giant hand.

Final Thoughts 

This is a very touching book about a very difficult, but real situation a young person (or anyone) can find themselves in. I don't see a reason why this shouldn't be in a library collection. Not only is Ness a gifted writer (The Chaos Walking trilogy is one of my favourite sets of books), it's a book that may be helpful to someone, or they may relate to it. It's also a tear-jerker, if you feel like you haven't had a good cry lately.