A Monster Calls

The monster tells Conor about an ancient kingdom that was ruled by a king and queen who had four sons. The king’s sons all died while defending the kingdom from chaos and invaders, and the queen died of a broken heart, “leaving the king only one heir. His infant grandson” (53). The king remarried a younger woman, and right before the grandson was old enough to ascend to the throne, the king died. Rumors spread that his new wife poisoned him, and that “she had conjured grave magicks to make herself look far younger than she actually was” (53-54). She became the queen regent until the grandson came of age and could take over. The young prince fell in love and wanted to marry a farmer’s daughter, but when his step-grandmother tried to convince him to marry her instead so she could remain queen, the prince ran away with his bride-to-be. They slept in the shade of the yew tree, and the next morning, the prince found his beloved stabbed to death and his own hands covered in blood. The prince blamed the wicked queen, and a mob formed to kill her. The monster came to life, saying that “[it] know[s] injustice when [it] sees it” (57). Conor is pleased at the thought of the wicked queen being punished, but the monster tells him that “The story [...] is not yet finished” (57).

The monster explains that it came walking to rescue the queen from the angry mob, and it “took her and carried her far enough away so that the villagers would never find her” (58). Conor is outraged at the thought that the monster would help a murderer escape her punishment, but the monster points out that “[it] never said she killed the farmer’s daughter” (58), only that the prince accused her. The monster shows Conor the scene and reveals that the prince committed the murder. The prince needed an excuse to turn the people of the kingdom against the queen so they would help him overthrow her. Conor is furious and calls it “a terrible story. And a cheat” (64). The monster explains that sometimes life is like that sometimes: “Many things that are true feel like a cheat” (64). Conor wants to know how this story is supposed to save him from his Grandma, to which the monster replies “It is not her [Conor] need[s] saving from” (64). Conor wakes up in his bed, and when he tries to get out of bed, he stubs his toe on a tree sapling that is growing from the wooden floor.

The next day on his way to school, Lily catches up with Conor and says that she forgives him for getting her in trouble. Conor tries to ignore her, but Lily comments that “[her] mum said we need to make allowances for you [...] Because of what you’re going through” (67). Conor is overwhelmed with anger and has violent thoughts about hurting Lily, but he walks away from her quickly. He remembers how “Lily had told a few of her friends about Conor’s mum” (68), and how word spread around school until everyone was treating him differently. Later in the day, Harry and his friends continue to bully Conor, although Harry won’t let anyone else hit Conor, because he says that “O’Malley and I have an understanding [...] I’m the only one who touches him” (70). Miss Kwan breaks up the fight, then privately tells Conor that she knows Harry is bullying him. She tells him to let her know if he needs to talk about anything, which makes Conor feel worse.

After school, Grandma tells Conor that he is coming to stay with her for a few days. His mother is going back to the hospital because “There’s a lot of pain [...] More than there should be” (74), and her usual pain medicine isn’t working. Conor’s dad is coming, and his mum wants to talk to him. Conor finds his mum in his room, and she insists that she’s going to be okay. He notices that his mother looks exceptionally skinny and pale, “almost like [she] was just bone and skin” (77). His mother admits that “this latest treatment’s not doing what it’s supposed to” (78) but insists that the doctors will fix her right up. Conor seems doubtful and asks his mother to be honest with him. She doesn’t respond, but she points out the yew tree out the window and asks Conor to “Keep an eye on it for [her] while [she’s] away” (78).

Five days pass at Grandma’s house, and the monster does not come to visit. Grandma leaves for the hospital, where she is now spending most of her time, and Conor’s father is on his way to pick him up so they can spend some time together. Conor thinks about how “His grandma’s house was cleaner than his mum’s hospital room” (81), and how he doesn’t feel comfortable or welcome in a place like this. After Grandma leaves for the hospital, Conor wanders around the house, making note of all of the things that make the home feel like a museum, including “his grandma’s prize clock, which no one but her could ever touch” (84). Conor is bored and restless in the house, but when his father arrives, “Conor smile[s] wider than he had for at least a year” (85).