In Patrick Ness's short young adult novel A Monster Calls, young Conor O'Malley deals with the difficult emotions associated with his mother's impending death from cancer. The Monster comes to teach the boy how to deal with his own grief. While exploring themes such as grief, storytelling, fear, courage, and the contradictions of human nature, the Monster and Conor work through his complex feelings, allowing the boy to be able to face his mother's death with courage and peace.
