Sunday, 1 July 2012

A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness

A kids' or "young adults'" book about a boy whose mum is dying of cancer and a Swamp Thing-style tree monster. It's very powerful and mostly well-written, except for the annoying habit of breaking up lines for emphasis.
Like this.
Which is a cheap trick.
Even when used sparingly - and here it isn't. Also feels a little... not didactic, exactly, but a bit messagey. A bit "here's the answer, kids!" But a well-crafted, tightly structured bit of fiction, definitely.

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