The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Genre: Fantasy

Where I Got It: It was recommended to me, and when I found it on a shelf I decided to read it.

One Sentence Summary:  Todd Hewitt is the only boy left in Prentisstown. There are no women in Prentisstown, because they were all killed off by a virus that also rendered men able to hear each other´s thoughts.

First Sentence: ¨The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don't got nothing much to say.¨

First Chapter Review:   The first chapter introduces the reader to Todd, his dog Manchee and his surroundings. It is explained Todd lives in New Prentisstown, the only settlement left on the planet. The author also explains the history of the planet, which culminated in all women dying, and men being able to hear each other´s thoughts.                                                                                               The author sets up his environment very well, showing the overwhelming gloom and sadness that pervades the town, and the confused jumble of men´s thoughts. We can see Todd´s opinions of the town situation, and the ¨Noise¨, or the thoughts of men.

Verdict: This book easily draws the reader in, with a mysterious secret that Todd attempts to uncover throughout the book, making this a page-turner. It’s the first of a trilogy, and leaves the reader in just the right place to make him/her want to read the sequel, The Ask and The Answer.

Cover Comments: It simply shows the outline of a red knife, obviously a reference to the knife Todd carries with him throughout the book, which is given a clear symbolism. There are faint scrawled letters on the cover, written in the same format that the author uses when writing ¨Noise¨(the thought s of men).