The Knife of Never Letting Go

Ness, Patrick. (2008). The Knife of Never Letting Go. Candlewick Press: Somerville, MA.

Awards: Guardian Children's Fiction Prize

              James Tiptree Jr. Award

Grade level: 9th and up

Lexile: 860L

Pages: 496

Summary: Thirteen year old Todd lives in the supernatural and eerie Presstintown, a place where  women don't exit and everyone can hear each other's thoughts loud and clear through a germ called Noise. Todd finds a hole in the Noise, where he can actually hear silence, no thoughts. The source of the silence is Viola, a girl, a survivor from the Old World. Both run away to escape the Noise as well as the Mayor Prentiss's army who is after them. Through their journey they come across aliens, sickness, and death itself. Todd and Viola tried desperately to reach the town of Haven, a safe place. When they finally arrive is deserted, except for Mayor Prentiss. He welcomes them and declares himself president of the New World Order.

Reader's response: The story is told by the protagonist, Todd, point of view. I have to say the book was full of surprises. What makes this story incredible is that the protagonist is being pursue, but his thoughts can be tracked. He has to be creative and wise not to get caught by his own thoughts, something no one can control. We all think to ourselves all the time, sometimes unconsciously.

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