The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Summary

     The Knife of Never Letting Go tells the story through its main character Todd.  Todd informs the reader that he lives in a small town, Prentisstown, where he is the last boy in his town.  Everyone else in his small town are men, because they become men at age 13.  There are no women, because they were all killed off by an alien race called the Spackle.  The Spackle released a genetic weapon on all of mankind; which infected the human race with a germ called Noise.  Noise gave every human being and animal the ability to communicate with each other mentally. 

     The story starts off with Todd and his dog, Manchee exploring the nearby swamp where they come in contact with something that is completely silent. In other words, no sound emanates from this creature.  Once he arrives home; he cannot contain what he found and his adoptive parents send Todd off somewhere new with a journal written by his other and a map. 

     On his journey, Todd comes into contact with the silence; which turns out to be that from a girl named Viola.  Viola is being chased by Aaron, who is a preacher from Prentisstown.  Todd is able to save Viola and together follow the map which leads them to the settlement of Farbranch.  

     While at the new settlement; Todd comes to realize that everything that was told to him was a lie.  He was under the assumption that his hometown was the only settlement and that no women were alive. The new settlement is occupied by both women and men.  Just as he is about to find out why he was told the lies; the Mayor of Prentisstown along with his army attack Farbranch and destroy it.  Todd and Viola continue their travels in hopes of reaching Haven; which is said to be the first and largest settlement.   Along their journey, the come across other settlements and learn what really occurred.

     The book comes to an end with Aaron having a confrontation with Todd and Viola.  Viola ends up killing Aaron and thus saving Todd’s life.  As they are about to enter Haven, Viola is shot, and Todd enters Haven shouting for someone to help him with Viola.  The Mayor of Prentisstown reveals himself and thus informing Todd that Haven has already been taken over the book ends with Todd asking for someone to help Viola as he is surrendering to Prentiss.  

Commentary on the Strengths

      The Knife of Never Letting Go is a young adult, fantasy/science fiction novel by Patrick Ness.  The story takes place in a dystopian society where an alien race has infected all beings on earth; giving all creatures the power of telepathy.  Where all beings are able to communicate non-verbally.  Though the town has the capability of high technology; the majority of the towns folk are subsistence farmers.  It is interesting to see that the main protagonist is a young male; considering most of the popular young adult literature dealing with a dystopian society have a young female as its lead.  The book clearly sets up the main plot of the second novel in the Chaos Walking trilogy.  The book is the winner of the 2008 Booktrust Teenage Prize, 2008 Guardian Award, and the 2008 James Tiptree Jr. Award.  It was also on the Carnegie Medal shortlist in 2009 and the Manchester Book Award longlist in 2009.  

Readers also enjoyed Blood Red Road by Moira Young, Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith,  The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith, Froi the Exiles by Melina Menchetta,  The Resistance by Gemma Malley

Additional books written by Patrick Ness include A Monster Calls, More Than This, The Rest of Us Just Live Here, The Crane Wife, and Release

Teachers can find ways to incorporate this book into their lesson plans at the following website: https://jwpblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/the-knife-of-never-letting-go-teaching-ideas/

Ness, P. (2014). The knife of never letting go. London: Walker Books.

Book Trailer