5 Stars
Pros: The artwork was hauntingly beautiful/Ness, as usual, manages to hit hard and painful topics with grace and subtlety/Essentially everything about this book was good.
Cons: I wanted to learn more about Conor and his life before. I had so many questions.
Full Review:
Every night since his mother began treatment, Conor's had the same nightmare. He's holding someone's hands, he knows that if he lets go, something terrible will happen. He fights and fights to keep his grip; but the nightmare always ends the same way.
One night, after waking from the nightmare Conor realizes that someone's calling his name. A dark, dangerous voice is calling for him. Conor goes to his bedroom window in search of the voice and realizes that there's a monster standing outside in the garden. The old Yew tree that stands sentry over the neighboring cemetery has uprooted itself and is now standing outside, beckoning. Conor opens the window and learns that the Yew tree has heard Conor's call and has answered. He explains to Conor that he will tell him three tales and then, it will be Conor's turn. He will tell the fourth tale and he will tell the truth.
Conor is ready and willing to accept that this was all a bizarre dream but when he wakes up the next morning, his bedroom floor is covered in yew needles.
I feel like the gravity of this book can't be properly expressed in a blog review.
Ness seamlessly weaves a beautiful but tragic tale of life, death and the inevitability of facing hard truths about yourself. Old, young, somewhere in between, this book will hit hard at any age; but it feels almost necessary for everyone to read it. It deals with a dark, painful topic with such grace and beautiful honesty that though sad, the story is still somehow uplifting and encouraging.
This is a book that needs to be read to be appreciated as well, since the illustrations by Jim Kay are haunting, dark and deep and simply aid in creating a true work of art.
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