The Knife of Never Letting Go

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press. Todd Hewitt has lived in Prentisstown his whole life and he is about to turn 13, which means he will finally become a man. Living in Prentisstown, Todd has learned to deal with the Noise coming from the men. The Noise causes everyone to be able to hear each other’s thoughts. One day Todd and his dog Manchee stumble upon complete silence, which is impossible in Prentisstown. Todd discovers the silence belongs to a girl, Viola, which is also impossible because Prentisstown doesn’t have any women. Finding Viola changes Todd’s life forever as they run away and in the process Todd learns that his entire life has been a lie. Prentisstown holds many dark secrets, and now Mayor Prentiss is hunting down Todd for escaping. As Todd and Viola try to reach safety they experience immense pain and heartbreak. This science fiction novel portrays life in a dystopian society, with Mayor Prentiss as the totalitarian leader. The voice of each character and their drive to fulfill their desires is the novel’s major strength. The detailed description throughout the novel of the characters and their hardships is also a big strength of the novel. Readers who want to know what has become of Todd and Viola following the climatic end of The Knife of Never Letting Go need to read The Ask and the Answer.