The Knife of Never Letting Go

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press.

Awards

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize (2008)

James Tiptree Jr. Award (2008)

Green Mountain Book Award (2012)

Summary:

Todd is the last boy in his community to become a man. The women have all died out due to the Noise germ that allows males to hear the thoughts of others and animals. In one month, Todd will no longer be considered just a boy but a man in his town of Prentisstown.

Until he stumbles into...a girl?

Todd is thrust into an adventure he never asked for, and he’s bound to find out the truth he never really wanted to know.

Reaction:

Patrick Ness is a masterful storyteller. WIthin The Chaos Walking series, he has created a detailed and vivid environment on New World that grows more intense the further into the series you read.

When the reader first meets Todd, there are subtle clues to the fact he is no longer on New World before the obvious (Manchee talking). Todd states on page 4 that he has been around for 12 years of 13 months and another 12 months besides and in another month he will become a man. The two moons is another hint.

It’s hard not to appreciate the character of Manchee. He loves Todd and has unwavering loyalty. Hearts break during the scene where the two part ways. It’s hard to read/listen to. And the reader suffers as much as Todd.

If readers find the print version of the book difficult to read, the audio version is a good way to stay engaged with the text. The narrator of the audio brings the different characters to life, especially that of Todd and Manchee. The production company helped give the reader an idea of what life among the Noise would be like in a couple of instances.

The ending of the novel ends on a cliffhanger. Mayor Prentiss has conquered the towns between Prentisstown and Haven.

“We’ve run right off the end of the world.

‘Welcome,’ says the Mayor, ‘to New Prentisstown.’” (pg 479). Many dystopian series appear to end their books on a somewhat more positive note than Ness has done in this first installment. The reader can’t help but continue on to The Ask and the Answer. Which is another oddity that adds charm to the series. The word question cannot be found in the book. Instead, it’s ask. “And that’s the ask, ain’t it?” or some variation is read/heard throughout the first book.

Continue reading the series to learn Todd and Viola’s fate, and to team up with the Spackle. The alien race is shortly introduced in this novel but continued reading explains the Spackle point of view behind the “wars”.   

Connections:

Activities:

- Mayor Prentiss committed an act of genocide against the women of the town. Examine reasons for Hitler's extermination of Jewish people. Compare Hitler and Mayor Prentiss.
- Prompt: What does it mean to become a man?
- What are the different reasons for entering a war?  
- Explore the author's craft in establishing the setting. Ness subtly lets the reader know at the beginning of the novel that they are somewhere unlike Earth. “I’ve lived twelve years of thirteen long months each and another month besides, all of which living means I’m still one month away from the big birthday.” (pg 4)
- Imagine your pet or random animals could talk. What do you imagine they would say to you?
- Create a map from Prentisstown to Haven. Don’t forget to add the spots along the way.
- Write from Viola’s point of view after landing on Earth until she meets Todd.  
- Study the different reasons why people take part in a pilgrimage - those among the Mayflower, the Oregon trail, Manifest Destiny, etc.    
- Todd constantly calls himself a coward. What do you think? What are some examples of his cowardice? What are some examples of bravery?

Complete the Adventure:

Ness, P. (2009). The Ask and the Answer. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.

Ness, P. (2010). Monsters of men. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.

“Gritty” Narration:

Young, M. (2011). Blood red road. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Other Recommendations:

Revis, B. (2011). Across the universe. New York: Razorbill.

This series is about a girl, Amy, and a boy, Elder. Amy has been cryogenically frozen because her parents are going to help settle a new planet. Elder is one being primed to rule the ship when his mentor is gone. He is one of the people helping keep the ship running as it goes towards its destination. By the third book in the series, Elder and Amy have landed the ship on the new planet. This series can be paired with The Knife of Never Letting Go and its series because it can help the reader identify with Viola more.