The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown. But prentisstown isn't like the other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts ini an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. There is no quiet, no privacy, no room for secrets. Or is there? Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee - whose thoughts Todd can hear, too, whether he wants to or not - stumble upon an area of complete silence. Which is impossible. Prentisstown has been hiding something from him, a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee are suddenly running for their lives. But how can you flee when your pursuers can hear your every thought? And where can you run when there's nowhere to go?

Written beautifully, this book is one of my favorites. I absolutely love the first sentence of this book, and the rest of the book lives up to it. The plot is suspensful and new and interesting. It's unique in every way and I've never read a book quite like this one. The main character is a boy named Todd. He can't wait until the day he turns thirteen in one month,  but when he finds a silence from the Noise of Prentisstown in the swamp, his whole world is turned upside down. He has to leave Prentisstown and hide. Everything Todd has ever known is unwraveling in a series of lies and Todd is confused and lost. Then, he and his dog Manchee meet a girl. The first girl Todd has ever met in his whole life. Viola's ship crashed onto New World and she is all alone. Meeting Todd is scary because she can hear all of his Noise. When they are both attacked by Pastor Aaron, though, they team up togeth and Todd, Viola and Manchee set off on an adventure wilder than they ever imagined.

These characters are great. They are well-rounded and dynamic. I love the friendship that these two come to have and how they achieve that friendship. They trust each other and will do anything to protect each other. One thing I love about this book is the ending. Its shocking and unexpected. I waited in suspense for the second and third book. Exciting, suspenseful, and riveting this book won't dissapoint.

Overall rating: 4 stars

*If you've never read it, add it to your BTR list!*