Comments on: Monster Redux http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/ A Mock Newbery Blog Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:41:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Meghan http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/#comment-57369 Meghan Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:05:38 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/?p=1977#comment-57369 I think that the idea of the book without the bullying would have forced Ness to do more character development on Connor in some other way. As Danae and others have mentioned, the bullying shows us a part of Conor's character that hungers for punishment. It's as though he realizes how helpless he is in his mother's situation, but still feels guilty for not being able to save her. Therefore, the bullying situation expresses Conor's rage and his guilt. So if we remove that situation, I'm not sure that the remaining novella would be strong enough to give the reader such insight into Conor's character, and without the depth that Ness uses to develop Conor, the story might not be distinguished. I think that the idea of the book without the bullying would have forced Ness to do more character development on Connor in some other way. As Danae and others have mentioned, the bullying shows us a part of Conor’s character that hungers for punishment. It’s as though he realizes how helpless he is in his mother’s situation, but still feels guilty for not being able to save her. Therefore, the bullying situation expresses Conor’s rage and his guilt. So if we remove that situation, I’m not sure that the remaining novella would be strong enough to give the reader such insight into Conor’s character, and without the depth that Ness uses to develop Conor, the story might not be distinguished.

]]> By: DaNae http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/#comment-57320 DaNae Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:45:30 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/?p=1977#comment-57320 It's been awhile, but I felt the bullies were there to show us that Conor looked to punish himself, thus giving us a premonition into his guilt. They didn't seem extraneous or separate from the major story arc. The fact that the Boss Bully eventually made Conor invisible caused more pain because Conor sought out the physical abuse for penance. It’s been awhile, but I felt the bullies were there to show us that Conor looked to punish himself, thus giving us a premonition into his guilt. They didn’t seem extraneous or separate from the major story arc. The fact that the Boss Bully eventually made Conor invisible caused more pain because Conor sought out the physical abuse for penance.

]]> By: Monica Edinger http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/#comment-57259 Monica Edinger Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:42:18 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/?p=1977#comment-57259 May I triple Nina and Mark's observation re the reading journey for this book. As Mark pointed out it is very much in keeping with the folkloric aspects in the work. May I triple Nina and Mark’s observation re the reading journey for this book. As Mark pointed out it is very much in keeping with the folkloric aspects in the work.

]]> By: Nina http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/#comment-57142 Nina Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:16:58 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/?p=1977#comment-57142 I still have to re-read this one, but I do want to echo the ditto of what Mark said about the ending....and that this is actually something that stands out for me as distinguished about the book. We DO know what's going to happen, and the whole story is about getting there, and in fact it's that doubleness of Connor knowing-but-not-admitting what's happening that creates the amazing tension of the plot...that tension that resolves itself as the monster. as a reader I didn't know HOW we were going to get to the ending, only where it was that we'd end up, and it made for extraordinarily compelling narrative. Of all the books on our shortlist, this one has the strongest tactile memory for me. I can feel/smell/hear it. I still have to re-read this one, but I do want to echo the ditto of what Mark said about the ending….and that this is actually something that stands out for me as distinguished about the book. We DO know what’s going to happen, and the whole story is about getting there, and in fact it’s that doubleness of Connor knowing-but-not-admitting what’s happening that creates the amazing tension of the plot…that tension that resolves itself as the monster. as a reader I didn’t know HOW we were going to get to the ending, only where it was that we’d end up, and it made for extraordinarily compelling narrative.

Of all the books on our shortlist, this one has the strongest tactile memory for me. I can feel/smell/hear it.

]]> By: Monica Edinger http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/#comment-56990 Monica Edinger Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:06:48 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/?p=1977#comment-56990 Well, since I think the bullying story is plausible I also think it is an important thread to the whole story; it would feel hollow without it. The way Conor withdraws from everyone and then his intense responses to his grandmother and the bully are connected to my mind. And my guess is the kids who read it (and I'm one who never questioned child appeal) will totally buy into the bullying and Conor's response. Well, since I think the bullying story is plausible I also think it is an important thread to the whole story; it would feel hollow without it. The way Conor withdraws from everyone and then his intense responses to his grandmother and the bully are connected to my mind. And my guess is the kids who read it (and I’m one who never questioned child appeal) will totally buy into the bullying and Conor’s response.

]]> By: Jonathan Hunt http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/#comment-56969 Jonathan Hunt Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:56:39 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/?p=1977#comment-56969 Not that this has anything to do with the Newbery, but I found myself wondering how the book would have read without the bullying theme altogether. It already has the feel of a novella (and it definitely feels like a novella after Chaos Walking). Would we be more generous with some of these "faults" if we perceived it as a novella rather than a novel? Not that this has anything to do with the Newbery, but I found myself wondering how the book would have read without the bullying theme altogether. It already has the feel of a novella (and it definitely feels like a novella after Chaos Walking). Would we be more generous with some of these “faults” if we perceived it as a novella rather than a novel?

]]> By: Meghan http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/#comment-56965 Meghan Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:46:47 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/?p=1977#comment-56965 So, I'm now feeling compelled to go back and do a 2nd more critical reading of A Monster Calls (despite the pull of my newly purchased copy of Shine by Laura Myracle calling from my Tbr pile!) to grapple with this bullying theme. Monica, you remind me that every bullying situation is distinct and personal. Perhaps Ness draws on unique impressions of his own experience to re create Connor's struggle. Never the less, maybe the validity of the bullying in general isn't really the question here. Certainly, individual aspects of it only served to strengthen the story for me- for example, when Connor finally gives way to his internal rage and pummels Harry. Or, when it appears (at least from my perspective) that Harry's character isn't as cruel as his companions- ie, when he abstains from hurting Conor in several scenes. This played to the Monster's story telling, in which it is revealed to Conor that people aren't just black and white. However, I felt so taken a back when Harry then unleashed his cruelest torrent yet by refusing to acknowledge Conor. How does this aspect of the bullying situation perhaps tie in with the Monster's stories? Or does it at all? So, I’m now feeling compelled to go back and do a 2nd more critical reading of A Monster Calls (despite the pull of my newly purchased copy of Shine by Laura Myracle calling from my Tbr pile!) to grapple with this bullying theme. Monica, you remind me that every bullying situation is distinct and personal. Perhaps Ness draws on unique impressions of his own experience to re create Connor’s struggle. Never the less, maybe the validity of the bullying in general isn’t really the question here. Certainly, individual aspects of it only served to strengthen the story for me- for example, when Connor finally gives way to his internal rage and pummels Harry. Or, when it appears (at least from my perspective) that Harry’s character isn’t as cruel as his companions- ie, when he abstains from hurting Conor in several scenes. This played to the Monster’s story telling, in which it is revealed to Conor that people aren’t just black and white.
However, I felt so taken a back when Harry then unleashed his cruelest torrent yet by refusing to acknowledge Conor. How does this aspect of the bullying situation perhaps tie in with the Monster’s stories? Or does it at all?

]]> By: Monica Edinger http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/#comment-56918 Monica Edinger Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:39:40 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/?p=1977#comment-56918 Meghan, I actually found the bullying situation incredibly believable. In my experience (decades of middle school classroom teaching) insecure kids who are the bullying sort can be so freaked out at another child's difficult situation that they will turn on them not simply isolate them. Meghan, I actually found the bullying situation incredibly believable. In my experience (decades of middle school classroom teaching) insecure kids who are the bullying sort can be so freaked out at another child’s difficult situation that they will turn on them not simply isolate them.

]]> By: Meghan http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/#comment-56795 Meghan Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:43:57 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/?p=1977#comment-56795 Thank you Jonathan, for bringing to light that whether or not kids will be drawn to the book does nothing to say whether or not it is distinguished. It is too tricky a game to figure out what pulls a reader (especially a child) into a book. I think one of the heaviest factors for this book in its Newbery contention is discerning Ness's web of character development. Brandy's point about illness defining a person is so valid. To me, that aspect of Connor's characterization is well done. I struggle with the validity of the bullying situation and Connor's response to it. In my experience, a student with a dying parent can be ostericized at school because of his peers often feel unsure of how to treat him- but would it really be a cause for his bullying? It almost feels as though Ness is trying to cram in another (perhaps more "on trend") theme to couple with the central theme of death. Thank you Jonathan, for bringing to light that whether or not kids will be drawn to the book does nothing to say whether or not it is distinguished. It is too tricky a game to figure out what pulls a reader (especially a child) into a book. I think one of the heaviest factors for this book in its Newbery contention is discerning Ness’s web of character development. Brandy’s point about illness defining a person is so valid. To me, that aspect of Connor’s characterization is well done. I struggle with the validity of the bullying situation and Connor’s response to it. In my experience, a student with a dying parent can be ostericized at school because of his peers often feel unsure of how to treat him- but would it really be a cause for his bullying? It almost feels as though Ness is trying to cram in another (perhaps more “on trend”) theme to couple with the central theme of death.

]]> By: Brandy http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2011/12/09/monster-redux/#comment-56788 Brandy Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:01:10 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/?p=1977#comment-56788 Re Conor's character: Yes, it was defined by his mother's illness. I think this was intentional because many people I know who experienced similar situations as a children have told me they felt completely defined by it. It rather takes over your life, which is part of what leads to the anger and the guilt. The confining of Conor's character (as he himself feels confine) helps build that claustrophobic atmosphere. That was how I read it. I think the other characters were drawn well, and like someone else said, with few words. The compactness of the story and how Ness managed to evoke so much emotion in me without taking up 300+ pages was part of what impressed me about it on an initial read. And I love what Mark had to say regarding the end. That exactly. Re Conor’s character: Yes, it was defined by his mother’s illness. I think this was intentional because many people I know who experienced similar situations as a children have told me they felt completely defined by it. It rather takes over your life, which is part of what leads to the anger and the guilt. The confining of Conor’s character (as he himself feels confine) helps build that claustrophobic atmosphere. That was how I read it.

I think the other characters were drawn well, and like someone else said, with few words. The compactness of the story and how Ness managed to evoke so much emotion in me without taking up 300+ pages was part of what impressed me about it on an initial read.

And I love what Mark had to say regarding the end. That exactly.

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