"Knowledge is dangerous"
Chosen by our Guest Editor for October 2023, Jennifer Killick, as one of her must-reads: There are so many things to love about this original, clever and gripping book, but the thing I love the most is the main character – Todd Hewitt. He is one of my favourite characters of all time.
Smart new edition of the book that changed the YA landscape and launched Patrick Ness as one of the most uniquely powerful writers of our time.
The population of god-fearing Prentisstown has been reduced to a mere 147 men (there are no women among them), but that’s not all that’s odd about the town. There’s no privacy here either, no silence, because everyone can hear the Noise of others’ thoughts. Everyone that is, except 12 year-old orphan Todd who, on the verge of the birthday that will see him become a man, discovers “a hole in the Noise” while walking by the dark swamp that teems with amphibians and reptiles.
When Todd tells his guardians, they’re horrified. “We have got to get you outta here,” they panic and so Todd is sent back to the swamp, and told he “ain’t coming back”. Shortly after fleeing, he meets a girl in the marsh and they must flee the hunters who can hear their every thought.
Page-turningly tense and stridently intelligent, this is storytelling at it’s most inventive - a powerful, exhilarating exploration of ethics, identity, fear and love. Published ten years ago, this seminal novel thoroughly deserves to be read by new generations.
A special anniversary edition, with a striking new cover design, to celebrate 10 years of the Chaos Walking trilogy. The electrifying and unflinching young adult novel about the impossible choices of growing up by award-winning fiction writer Patrick Ness.
A word from the author: 'The Knife of Never Letting Go started as an idea about information overload. We're constantly surrounded by information - internet, emails, texts, etc - whether we want to be or not. To me, this can sometimes see overwhelming, sometime just so incredibly loud that it's impossible to make sense of.
And I start thinking, what if you really couldn't escape? What if information never, ever stopped? And that gave me the idea of the Noise and of an intelligent, thoughtful young man buckling under the weight of it. There would come a day when he'd have no choice but to run...'
What the Carnegie Award judges said: 'A bleak and unflinching novel with fascinating characters and extraordinary dialogue which creates a fully-realised world that the reader really buys into. The dog Manchee is an inspired creation! Ness conveys a real sense of terror and the ending is devastating. A novel that really stands out.'
Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets. Then Todd Hewitt unexpectedly stumbles on a spot of complete silence. Which is impossible. And now he's going to have to run...
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Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming Noise.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Knife of Never Letting Go and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
The Knife of Never Letting Go features in the following genres: Featured Books for 13+ readers, Recommendations, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for Young Adults, Science Fiction, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Gritty Reads
Paperback. £8.99, down from the £9.99 cover price. Temporarily Out Of Stock.
The Knife of Never Letting Go was written by Patrick Ness and published by Walker Books Ltd
The Knife of Never Letting Go has 478 pages
Yes it is part of Chaos Walking Trilogy series
£8.99, reduced from £9.99. Temporarily Out Of Stock.
