A Monster Calls

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

CHAPTERS 1-6

Reading Check

1. Why is the yew tree monster angry at Conor’s reaction when it first comes to life in Chapter 1?

2. What evidence does the monster leave behind in Conor’s bedroom in Chapter 2?

3. What is the name of the kid at school who bullies Conor?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What happens between Lily and Conor in Chapter 4?

2. What does the monster say will happen when he visits Conor in the future?

3. Why does Conor think that his grandmother is not like other grandmothers?

Paired Resource

“Author Patrick Ness Exclusive Interview – A Monster Calls”

• In this interview, Patrick Ness discusses the success of A Monster Calls and the screenplay adaptation of the book, which was released as a film in 2016.
• This connects to the themes of The Necessity of Confronting Difficult Truths and The Power of Guilt and Shame.
• How does Conor give the reader/viewer a unique perspective on the difficult emotions of guilt and shame? How might a child confront difficult truths differently than an adult?