Conor is dealing with more than an ordinary teenager should have to: his mum is seriously ill, his dad lives far away with a new family, he has terrifying nightmares every night - and now he's being visited by a monster. An ancient, elemental creature, born from nature, who has forced its way into his world. But through his encounters with the monster, and the stories the creature tells him, Conor slowly learns to come to terms with what is happening around him. This edition of Patrick Ness's bestselling novel includes supporting notes that explore the themes, context and language, and that are perfect for students.