Tales
The name of Conor's dream where he sees himself letting go of his mum
What is the "nightmare?"
Why did the Parson beg the Apothecary for his help in tale 2?
What is to save his daughters?
This character lives in America and comes for occasional visits
Who is Dad?
What is the main emotion that Conor has to come to terms with by the end of the book?
What is Grief
As Harry and the other bullies are picking on Conor, Ness writes that Conor’s stomach contracts to feel like a ball of fire, "like a little sun burning him up from the inside."
What kind of figurative language is this? (Hint: look at the SHAMPOO paper on the wall)
What is a simile?
In this simile, Ness illustrates the extreme sensation that Conor's anger and shame provokes by likening the sensation to that of holding a small fireball within his stomach.
Name at least one theme of the book and explain how it is a theme.
Isolation and Connection (Feeling invisible)
Storytelling (Parables; Fables)
Acceptance
Grief and loss
Human emotions are complex
What time does the Monster come at?
12:07
Who says "Stories are wild creatures. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak”
Who is the Monster?
Who states “I wish I had a hundred years, she said, very quietly. A hundred years I could give to you.”
Who is Mum?
Explain what this quote means:
“You do not write your life with words...You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.”
Conor's actions are far more important that his thoughts or words. He is defined by what his choices and behaviours, not just his thoughts or intentions. Words and thoughts are easy, but actions reveal your true character.
What happened to the prince at the end of the first tale?
What is he lived a happy life?
Conor destroys this room in the story with the monster's "help"
What is Grandma's living room?
This character that Conor blames for the school knowing about his mum's illness.
Who is Lily
Who states, “There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”
Who is the Monster?
Explain what this quote means:
“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in-between.”
The monster is telling Conor that he himself is neither good nor bad for feeling the way he is feeling.
What did Conor do at the end of the second story?
Destroy his grandmother's living room.
This is what the original monster is made from
What is a yew tree?
Choose a secondary character (Lily, Harry, Ms. Kwan) and describe how that character shows or does not show support for Conor during the book.
Lily shows support for Conor even when he doesn't treat her kindly. She stands up for him when other students tease him. Even though Conor pushes her away, Lily continues to look out for him. At the end she tells him that "she sees him" when he is feeling invisible.
Harry does not show support for Conor. Instead, he bullies Conor especially when he is feeling most vulnerable. Harry's actions make Conor feel even more alone. Towards the end Harry attempts to hurt Conor most of all with telling him "I no longer see you."
Ms. Kwan tries to support Conor, but often falls short because she doesn't really understand what he is going through. She knows something is wrong, but does not give him the support that he needs. As a result he feels even more alone and invisible. She attempts to show that she cares and wants to help, but does not actually end up helping Conor.
What is Conor's "truth" that the Monster forces him to admit?
He is tired, scared and secretly wishes that his Mum's illness would be over so that she wouldn't have to fight anymore, people wouldn't treat him like he is invisible and so that his life can go back to "normal."
DAILY DOUBLE
Identify a symbol from the book and explain what it might represent.
The Yew Tree is a symbol of healing and wisdom for both Conor and his Mum. It also symbolizes Conor's denial and false hope regarding his Mum getting better. A Yew Tree can be poisonous when used incorrectly, but can also be used for medicine. They are thought to be some of the oldest trees in the United Kingdom.
The Clock represents time and memory. The reoccurring clock symbolizes the passage of time and the eventual death of Conor's mother. It shows that time is running out for both of them to accept what is happening no matter how many times it is denied.
The Nightmare is what Conor fears the most, he cannot save his Mum from falling off a cliff is the symbol for the truth Conor is unwilling to accept. In the end Conor is relieved for his mother to die after the pain he was watched her live through. He feels shame for feeling this way and for allowing himself to let his mother go.
What is the moral of the first story?
Most people aren't just "good" or "bad" but somewhere in between.
The monster came walking at the end of the 2nd tale to do this
What is to destroy the Parson's home?
The title of someone who heals people with herbs
He feels guilty about wanting his Mum's pain to end.
He feels guilty about not being able to "save" his Mum.
He feels guilty for being angry at his classmates, his grandma, his dad, his mum and the world.
He feels guilty for the truth that the Monster forces him to admit.
The book uses both pictures and text. Why might combining images with writing help readers understand Conor's feelings? (Give an example)
Images add emotion and show trauma that words might not fully capture.
It helps to make the story clearer.
The art style is dark and made from ink which give us similar feelings to what Conor is experiencing and how he sees the world.