Eleanor O Malley: A True Monster

Even though I am not quite finished with this book, when I read this part, it was like a switch that turned on that intrigued me. Conor O'Malley, a young boy, lives with his mother who has cancer. He has been having nightmares almost every night since she started treatment. A monster shows up in the middle of the night and states that he has come to get him. Surprisingly, Conor was not scared and he actually told the monster to get him. He was not expecting this monster to show up because he had seen a much more terrifying monster in his nightmares. "A huge, twisted, branch-wound hand grabbed Conor around the middle and lifted him off the floor. It swung him out of his room and into the night, high above his backyard, holding him up against the circle on the moon, its fingers clenching so hard against Conor's ribs he could barely breathe" (Ness 9).
I definitely would have covered my head and try to pretend he wasn't there. This monster reminds me of the monster that was in my dreams when I was younger. Although it wasn't a tree, it was gigantic and I remember I used to run to my parents room every time it was in my nightmare. I couldn't imagine what Conor was thinking and I don't know if I would want to find out. I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to read a book that touches your heart but also creeps you out a bit. Until next time