A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Conor O'Malley's mother has been sick for a long time, but now she is getting worse, and as much as she tries to hide it, Conor can tell. On top of this, he has been having the same terrible nightmare about a monster over and over again. One night, after waking up from his usual dream, he finds himself face-to-face with a monster -- not the monster from his dream, but one that looks a lot like the yew tree in his back yard. The monster informs Conor that he will tell him three stories and, after the third story, Conor must tell him one in return, and it must be the truth

The monster comes back and tells its stories as Conor's mother continues to decline. Conor has to navigate his own feelings about these stories and his mother's changing condition while adjusting to living with his grandmother. His father also returns making matters even more confusing. With the world swirling around him and everyone he knows treating him oddly, Conor feels alone and invisible with his emotions and wonders if he can face himself, tell his truth, and come to terms with stories that don't have happy endings.

One great part of this book is the artwork by Jim Kay. Check some of it out if you get a chance. A Monster Calls won awards for both its writing and its artwork. This is a great book for anyone going through a tough time. See what you think, and let us know!