The literary monster that won two of the UK's highest awards
In short: A Monster Calls is the only book in history to win both the Carnegie Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal in a single year. This rare achievement honors both its profound narrative and its evocative visual art, capturing a story of terminal illness and the heavy burden of truth.
Originally conceived by Siobhan Dowd while she was terminally ill with cancer, the story was completed by Patrick Ness after Dowd's death in August 2007. Ness was granted complete creative freedom to ensure the work reflected Dowd's intent: to let the story grow and change naturally rather than simply guessing her specific prose. The novel, published in May 2011, centers on Conor O'Malley, a boy navigating his mother's terminal illness and the isolation of his family life.
The narrative utilizes a monster—a towering mass of branches and leaves from a yew tree—to tell three stories that explore human complications. These tales illustrate the necessity of self-deception, the danger of shifting beliefs, and the consequences of violence. The monster eventually demands that Conor face his own nightmare: the truth that he wanted his mother's suffering to end so he would no longer feel alone. By confessing this 'selfish' human truth, Conor is able to finally let her go.
The book's visual identity was shaped by Jim Kay, who was selected to illustrate a single scene before being tasked with the full work. Kay approached the illustrations like a moving film or theater piece, building 'props' and 'scenery' to establish atmosphere. His contribution was vital in tackling the book's most explosive and energetic elements, ensuring the visual weight matched the emotional intensity of the prose. The work's acclaim was universal, spanning from The New York Times to the Wall Street Journal.
The success of the book led to a 2016 film adaptation directed by Juan Antonio Bayona. The production involved a high-profile cast, including Liam Neeson voicing the Monster and Sigourney Weaver as the grandmother. This transition from page to screen cemented the story's status as a 'singular masterpiece' of contemporary children's literature.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A Monster Calls
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