Review: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Title: The Knife of Never Letting Go
Author: Patrick Ness

Hardcover, 479 pages

Published May 5th 2008 by Walker Children's

Recommended: 14 and up

Goodreads Summary:
Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown.

But Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets.

Or are there?

Just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd unexpectedly stumbles upon a spot of complete silence.

Which is impossible.

Prentisstown has been lying to him.

And now he's going to have to run...


My Thoughts:


Prentisstown is not your typical happy-go-lucky town.  Everyone can hear everyone's thoughts, in the Noise.  There is no escaping.  Todd Hewitt is the last boy in town, and he has one month until he is thirteen and officially a man.  The Noise germ has killed all the women in their town, and Todd has accepted everything Prentisstown has told him.  Until the day he hears the quiet.  And he meets a girl.  And now he must run, because Prentisstown has been lying to him all his life.  


This has definitely been one of my favorite books.  Ever.  I spent an evening reading when I should have been studying.  But it was worth it.  The Knife of Never Letting Go is a Dystopian that has romance, suspense, action, and the frightening thrills of growing up in a world where everyone hears your thoughts.  In the world of Dystopian it is refreshing to read about a world where there is no censorship enforced by others, but censorship that you must force on yourself.


Todd and Violet were an uber cute couple.  (Please ignore the fact that I used uber cute in an actual sentence.)  Even though they're twelve, I really loved the romance/non romance.  It wasn't like all out kissing/hand holding/hugging, but it was really cute :)  I think I've completely girl-ified this review and book, but this really is a "boy book."  No staring into each other's eyes and murmurings of "I love you" in the moonlight.  


The book in general was just awesome.  Had a total twisty, loopy plot and it definitely didn't end the way I thought it would.  Just as I thought it would have a happily ever after, it stabs me in the back with the ending.  You'll just have to read it to know what happens ;)


As a side note, I love love love Manchee!  He is adorable!  And I love how loyal he is to Todd, even when Todd is mean to him.  I don't want to spoil, but many tears were shed over Manchee.  As well as many laughs and smiles. 


Overall: 5/5 stars.  I'm completely obsessed with this book.  I need book 2 now!!! Fortunately, the entire trilogy is out already, so if you decide to read it, you won't have to wait :)  I would recommend this to all "boy book" fans and dystopian fans :)