This comprehensive 10‑lesson bundle guides pupils through A Monster Calls with a rich blend of analytical, creative and discussion‑based activities. Each lesson builds progressively, helping students explore the novel’s emotional depth, symbolic layers and narrative structure while developing high‑quality reading and writing skills.

Across the unit, pupils will:

Explore the origins and context of the novel and the Gothic influences that shape its tone.

Analyse key characters, including Conor, Mum, Grandma, Dad and Lily, using inference, annotation and structured discussion.

Investigate the symbolism of the yew tree, the Monster’s role, and the emotional significance of the tales.

Examine themes such as truth, guilt, healing, social invisibility and family conflict.

Compare the structure and moral ambiguity of the Monster’s tales, identifying parallels with Conor’s real‑life experiences.

Analyse Ness’s use of linguistic devices, including imagery, personification, foreshadowing and sensory language.

Develop high‑quality analytical writing through PEE paragraphs, sentence‑level modelling and scaffolded tasks.

Engage in peer discussion, creative responses and reflective tasks that deepen emotional understanding.

Choose between an Analytical or Creative final assessment pathway, supported by planning sheets and success criteria.

Reflect on the novel’s powerful message about healing and emotional truth.

The bundle includes worksheets, discussion prompts, analytical scaffolds, creative tasks and structured lesson flows designed to support all learners. It is ideal for KS3 classes studying the novel in depth, with a strong focus on empathy, interpretation and high‑quality writing.

Some visuals in this resource were made with AI to help bring ideas to life and support student understanding.