I think my expectations were too high for it though. I had heard really great things about it and wanted to read it before seeing the movie. I didn’t really know what to expect.

I have not read any of Patrick Ness or Siobhan Dowd’s writing before, so I am not sure how this compares to any of their previous work. It is a good book, especially considering it was based on one author’s ideas and notes that another author wrote into a book.

The story was good and I liked the plot, but the writing was really simple. Obviously it is meant for a younger audience, but often it just felt too simplistic. Conor’s character didn’t really resonate with me either. He felt very two-dimensional and easy to figure out.

It’s a quick read that is pretty predictable. Right when the monster shows up, you pretty much know what has to happen by the end.

But the journey to the end is still interesting. I enjoyed the idea of the three stories and having Conor come up with the fourth. Very interesting idea of how to confront various emotions.

I do think this is a great discussion book for young readers, especially when looking at some of the discussion questions in the back of the book. There is a lot going on in this book; it is just hidden beneath a layer of simplicity that is kind of hard to sweep away.

I think this book is a 3.5, but I bumped it up to 4 stars because of its ambitious approach of the subject matter.

Overall, a good read and I want to see how the movie version compares.