by Patrick Ness, narrated by Nick Podehl
Candlewick, 2008. 496 pgs
Young Adult
Hardcover: $18.99
Annotation: Todd will soon be a man on New World, but when he finds out the truth about his town, will he survive the chaos to reach his 13th birthday?
Summary: Todd Hewitt is just a month shy of his 13th birthday, the age when he will be proclaimed a "man" on New World. He and his guardians (Bed and Cillian) live in Prentisstown, in a futuristic society on a planet where everyone's thoughts--including the animals--can be heard just as plain as if you were thinking them aloud. Dubbed "the noise" this overwhelming cacophany rules the lives of the men in Prentisstown, and only the men, because the germ which caused men's thoughts to become audible managed to kill all the women, including Todd's mother. But, one day Todd hears something in the swamp that causes him to panic--silence. Silence is unheard of in Prentisstown and when Todd finds out what is causing the silence it's anyone's guess who is more frightened, him or the teenage girl looking back at him. But when he rushes off to tell Ben and Cillian, chaos breaks out and before Todd knows what's happening, the sheriff is calling for an accounting of what happened in the swamp and his guardians have thrust a backpack with his mother's journal into Todd's arms and urge him back to the swamp, telling him that he must read the book, the accompanying map and make his way to Haven--a town he never knew existed. Confused, Todd runs, taking his dog Manchee into the swamp with him where he encounters the girl again and the two soon realize they must stay together in order to save their lives because Aaron, the town holy man, seems intent on killing them both. Todd and Viola form a tentative companionship as they strive to stay one step ahead of Aaron and the men of Prentisstown, who, for whatever reason, want to ensure Todd never reaches Haven. It's a treacherous, painful journey for them both and along the way Todd learns that everything he's been told about Prentisstown and New World has been nothing but a lie. And whether or not he will be forced to use the knife Ben gifted him to defend himself or to make himself into a man is the most important decision Todd might have to make.
Evaluation: Patrick Ness creates a fascinating society on New World and Todd and Viola are fragile, sympathetic protagonists. The idea of "the noise" is a clever implement and the fact that Todd is just as much in the dark about the true nature of New World as the reader creates an exciting tension as we desire to know the real state of affairs just as much as he does. The pacing is excellent and the non-stop action as the teens struggle to make it to Haven is riveting. But, it is the narrator who makes the book come to life. Podehl is a genius at vocal personification and each character has substance. He does spot-on accents and every human, animal and alien has a different rhythm and different quality. I especially loved the Podehl's singing voice: strong, tantalizing and nostalgic as he gives voice to the folksong, "Early One Morning...on don't deceive me, oh never leave me", that Todd's mother and guardian used to sing to him. He does lovely immitations of the "spackle", the alien life forms native to New World and does an excellent Manchee impersonation. Overall a delightful book and a superb narrator made this a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I was only disappointed in the swearing, which was too harsh for my tastes. But the ending! I was absolutely stunned and heartbroken when the book ended as I hadn't realized it was the 1st in a trilogy. It's such a cliffhanger and I am waiting for the second book with great anticipation.
Significance: "The Knife of Never Letting Go" addresses several relevant themes for a teenage audience. First, the author uses "the noise" as a means to discuss the overwhelming and nonstop proliferation of constant information we currently contend with. Another major theme is the issue of when a child becomes a man and what is it that makes him a man--is it simply reaching a birthday or is it through choice, decision and action? Then there is the pain of losing one's parents, learning to trust someone new and trying to survive when all the cards seem stacked against you. The grandest argument Ness puts forth is the idea that we all 'fall' and what makes the difference is whether we get back up again. Using biblical themes of the fall and a possible atonement give this book more depth and catapult it into award-winning territory.
Personal Choice: I love, love, LOVE great audio books and when I saw this had won the Odyssey Honor, as well as several other awards I was immediately enticed.
Awards: Odyssey Honor, 2011 / Booktrust Teenage Prize / Guardian Award / James Tiptree, Jr. Award, 2008
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