#tbt features The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. Book one of the Chaos Walking Trilogy was first published in England in May of 2008, and in the U.S. in October. Todd Hewitt is about to turn thirteen and he lives in an all-male settlement called Prentisstown on a planet that was colonized some years before. Todd has been taught that the men were infected with a germ that broadcasts all their thoughts and the women died from it. Todd's adoptive parents, Ben and Cillian want him to run away from the settlement before his manhood initiation, but Todd is resistant. Todd finds a quiet space away from all the noise of the men while out in the swamp with his dog, Manchee, and he escapes there as often as possible. He's shocked to find a girl who doesn't speak, nor can he hear her thoughts, but Manchee trusts her. Todd can tell because Manchee's, as well as other animals, thoughts are broadcast as well.
This sci-fi dystopian, features a brilliant first line, "The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don't got nothing much to say." It also has one of the most heartbreaking scenes in YA literature. The world-building is vivid and the suspense is high. The book was named a Booklist Editor's Choice and a Best Book for Young Adults. It was adapted for film and released in 2021 entitled, Chaos Walking.
I read this one with my ears. It was narrated by one of my favorite narrators and the special effect that depicted the noise was particularly evocative. Happy reading!
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