Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is one of those books that punches you in the chest and leaves you better for it. Patrick Ness took Siobhan Dowd's final idea (she died of cancer before writing it) and created something that honors both grief and storytelling as ways to survive impossible things.

The monster isn't the scary part—the real life is. Conor's mom is dying, he's angry and terrified and in denial, and then this ancient yew tree shows up at 12:07 to tell him stories that don't make sense until they suddenly, devastatingly do. The nested fairy tales are morally complex in the best way—no easy heroes or villains, just humans doing messy human things.

It's not an easy read. Kids dealing with terminal illness in the family will see themselves and might find it cathartic or overwhelming depending on timing. Kids not dealing with it will get an empathy masterclass. Either way, it's literature that respects young readers enough to not lie to them about death.

The Carnegie Medal was well-earned. This belongs on middle school reading lists and in the hands of any kid ready to wrestle with big, hard feelings. Just make sure they're actually ready—this isn't escapism, it's emotional reckoning with a monster-shaped guide.

Age Fit

Best for ages 12-16, though mature 10-11 year olds dealing with similar family situations might benefit with support. The Lexile is accessible (730L) but the emotional content is what determines readiness, not reading level. Adults love it too—it's a crossover hit.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

78

Deals with terminal illness and grief with emotional honesty and depth. The book doesn't shy away from anger, fear, and complicated feelings about a parent dying, which is psychologically healthy but emotionally intense. Models processing difficult emotions through storytelling and metaphor. The protagonist's journey through denial, rage, and acceptance is realistic and developmentally appropriate for teens, though heavy.

Imaginative

92

A yew tree that transforms into an ancient monster coming at 12:07 every night to tell three stories is wildly creative. The nested fairy tale structure—stories within the story that mirror Conor's emotional journey—is brilliant. Jim Kay's illustrations add visual depth. The metaphorical framework invites readers to think about truth, perspective, and the stories we tell ourselves. Born from Siobhan Dowd's unfinished concept and completed by Patrick Ness, it's a masterclass in imaginative storytelling about real pain.

Safe

55

This is a book about a child watching his mother die of cancer. There's violence (Conor physically attacks a bully, destroys his grandmother's living room), nightmare imagery, and the sustained emotional trauma of terminal illness. It's not gratuitous—it's purposeful—but it's genuinely difficult content. A kid picking this up expecting fantasy adventure will get gut-punched by grief. The 'safety' concern isn't about inappropriateness but about emotional readiness and context. This needs to land in the right hands at the right time.

Enriching

94

Carnegie Medal winner for good reason. This book teaches emotional literacy about grief, ambivalence, and the complexity of loving someone you might lose. The nested parables explore moral ambiguity—good people doing bad things, bad people doing good things, and the human messiness in between. It builds empathy for anyone dealing with loss or illness. The literary craft is exceptional—metaphor, symbolism, pacing—making it valuable for teaching narrative structure. Therapeutic for kids processing similar experiences, enlightening for those who aren't.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Carnegie Medal winner that treats kids' emotional intelligence with respect—no sugar-coating death or grief
The monster's three stories are brilliant parables about moral complexity and the messy truth of being human
Jim Kay's haunting illustrations add visual punch to an already powerful narrative
Therapeutic gold for kids dealing with loss, illness in the family, or complicated feelings they can't name
Literary craft is top-tier: metaphor, nested narrative, pacing—great for teaching what good writing looks like

⚠

What to Watch For

This is a book about terminal cancer and a child's grief—it's emotionally brutal and needs the right reader at the right time
Violence includes Conor attacking a bully and destroying property in rage—it's contextualized but intense
Nightmare sequences and monster imagery may be scary for younger or more sensitive readers
The ending doesn't offer false hope—it's about acceptance, which is beautiful but hard

Conversation Starters

"The monster says 'stories are the wildest things of all.' What do you think that means?"
"Conor has really complicated feelings about his mom being sick—sometimes even angry at her. Have you ever felt two opposite things about someone at the same time?"
"Each of the monster's stories has a twist where the 'good guy' isn't so good or the 'bad guy' isn't so bad. Why do you think the monster wanted Conor to hear those?"
"What do you think the monster really represents? Is it scary or helpful or both?"
"If you had to tell your own truth like Conor does, what would be hard to say out loud?"

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