A Monster Calls Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, The Short Life of Siobhan Dowd and our BookBrowse Review of A Monster Calls.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. "You're a good boy," Conor's mother tells him. "I wish you didn't have to be quite so good" (page 17). What does she mean by that? Why does Conor have to be so good?



2. How does the monster describe itself to Conor? Where does the monster come from? What does it want? Do you think that the monster is real, or is it a product of Conor's imagination? What does Conor think?



3. Lily was once Conor's closest friend, but now he can't forgive her. Why? Is he right to feel betrayed? How do most people behave around Conor once they learn about his mother's illness? What would you have done in Lily's situation?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Candlewick Press. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.