Monster Calls, A

Reach for this book when your child is facing the impending loss of a loved one or is struggling with the messy, unspoken guilt that often accompanies long-term family illness. It is a profound tool for the teenager who feels isolated by their grief or who expresses their pain through anger and withdrawal. The story follows Conor, a boy visited by a monster made of ancient yew trees who tells him three stories in exchange for Conor's own hidden truth. While the premise involves a monster, the heart of the book is a deeply realistic exploration of anticipatory grief, the complexity of love and loss, and the shame of wanting a painful situation to finally end. It is best suited for mature middle schoolers and high schoolers due to its intense emotional weight and dark atmospheric tone. Parents will find it provides a safe vocabulary for discussing 'the truth' of a terminal diagnosis and the confusing relief that can come with letting go.