Themes include Mental health, suicide, and family dysfunction.
YA novel about the “monsters” of depression and family dysfunction. Sam, a 12-year-old is the narrator of the book. parts are just utterly heartbreaking and parts that will show Sam as the funny boy he was, The monster of depression and family dysfunction. Every young adult could learn and see how Sam tries to change the monsters in his own world. Such a special read.

The cover of this book and its title immediately pulled me in and then I was sold on requesting an ARC when I read the description. Whilst the target audience for this book is Young Adult, I think it is equally valuable for adults, parents, teachers etc to read also to understand the challenges facing today’s adolescence with regards to mental health. I thought portraying the mental state as ‘monsters’, characters almost, was a really clever way of giving meaning to certain struggles. I will be recommending this book to friends and family.

Making Friends with Monsters is active and inviting prose, and a book I would gladly share with my students. I love the way the author uses the text as a space for dealing with real-life questions with thoughtfulness.