A Monster Calls

Conor has the chance to tell Miss Kwan about Harry bullying him several times. Why does he lie and say that everything is fine?

Consider the different items left behind after the monster visits Conor. What do the leaves, the berries, and the sapling represent after each visit?

Conor makes several comments about his father’s accent. Why is his father’s accent significant, and what does it imply about their relationship?

The author does not reveal Conor’s nightmare until the final chapters of the novel. Why? How would the story be different if the nightmare were portrayed earlier in the story?

When Conor learns that he won’t be punished for destroying Grandma’s sitting room or for attacking Harry, he is disappointed. Why?

The author never gives a name to Conor’s mother’s illness. How does this choice impact the story?

The monster in the story is a variation of the Green Man, a personification of nature that occurs in many cultural traditions. How does Ness both participate in and reinvent notions of the relationship between nature, death, and rebirth? Use the novel and your own research to support your claim.

In Lily’s note to Conor, she says “I see you.” Why does she say this to Conor? What does it mean?