ReleasePatrick Ness
HarperCollins, 2017 277 pages
Grades 9-12
Realistic/Fantasy
A pivotal day in the life of almost-senior Adam Thorn. Adam is having maybe his worst day ever. It begins with his ultra-religious college-student brother confessing to him that he is about to become a father and would Adam please come out to pastor father in order to deflect the condemnation? Next Adam goes to work where he is sexually harassed by his gross older boss, who issues an ultimatum if he wants to keep his job. Adam visits his best friend and confidant, only to discover that Angela will be leaving to spend their senior year overseas. A mid-afternoon hook-up with his boyfriend Linus makes Adam realize how much he misses his ex Enzo, who's going away party is scheduled for the evening. Helping his father set up for church leads to a frank discussion about Adam's sexuality and the harassment situation and ends in conflict, hurt and disappointment. Finally the party arrives. Encountering Enzo proves to be hurtful, yet healing and Adam is finally able to allow himself to be fully open to Linus and move forward with his life. Alternating chapters leap from realistic to fantasy as they tell the story of a spirit queen who has merged with a recently deceased teenage drug addict in Adam’s home town, who was murdered by her boyfriend. The two souls are followed by a faun and seek solace, closure, and revenge before going back to the earth.
Patrick Ness is one of my favorite authors. I appreciate A Monster Calls and especially love The Knife of Never Letting Go. This is another well-written book that stretches the reader's imagination. The rural Washington state setting is integral to the plot and Ness explores the problems of drug addiction in the area (as with the entire US) and its aftermath in the subplot of Katie and the Queen. Katie's tale is told in alternating chapters and is in a different font as to not confuse the reader. The plots are happening simultaneously in the same terrain and though there is some overlap, there is no major joining of the story-lines. Adam's tale of a pivotal coming-of-age day is a classic mainstay in literature. Ness shows everything in Adam's world falling apart, which allows Adam to "clean house" and live his life on his own terms. As usual, religion is seen as a negative and stifling influence in Adam's life. As a religious person who has been taught through church to "love one another" it hurts me to only see fellow Christians portrayed as bigoted gay-bashers, but this is Ness's story and he is free to tell it reflecting his own experiences. The reader is left with a sense of hope that Adam has found his voice and some much needed self-worth. We hope that he also finds his way out of this small town and into a bigger world where he has more choices and support.
Patrick Ness is one of my favorite authors. I appreciate A Monster Calls and especially love The Knife of Never Letting Go. This is another well-written book that stretches the reader's imagination. The rural Washington state setting is integral to the plot and Ness explores the problems of drug addiction in the area (as with the entire US) and its aftermath in the subplot of Katie and the Queen. Katie's tale is told in alternating chapters and is in a different font as to not confuse the reader. The plots are happening simultaneously in the same terrain and though there is some overlap, there is no major joining of the story-lines. Adam's tale of a pivotal coming-of-age day is a classic mainstay in literature. Ness shows everything in Adam's world falling apart, which allows Adam to "clean house" and live his life on his own terms. As usual, religion is seen as a negative and stifling influence in Adam's life. As a religious person who has been taught through church to "love one another" it hurts me to only see fellow Christians portrayed as bigoted gay-bashers, but this is Ness's story and he is free to tell it reflecting his own experiences. The reader is left with a sense of hope that Adam has found his voice and some much needed self-worth. We hope that he also finds his way out of this small town and into a bigger world where he has more choices and support.
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