 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, Book 1)
- By Patrick Ness
- Genre: Science Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Exciting but violent dystopian thriller for teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a fantasy book, but it does feature some gruesome violence -- horrible injuries are described graphically, and there is a shocking level of brutality, especially of men toward boys, women, and animals. One climactic fight involves the breaking of bones, snapping of gristle, crushing of eyeballs, and lots of blood. Not for the faint-hearted or sensitive.
What's the story?
Todd has grown up in a village of men, believing that everyone else in the world, including all the women, was wiped out in a biological war with the original alien inhabitants of this planet. The world is filled with Noise, as the thoughts of all, human and animal, are constantly broadcast to all. Now, about to reach the age of manhood at 13, he discovers that nearly everything he has been told about his world is a lie. Forced to flee with his talking dog and a girl who has crash landed nearby, he is pursued by an army bent on conquest, and an insane preacher bent on murder.
Is it any good?
In the course of this lengthy, complex, suspenseful, and emotional novel, the first in a proposed series called Chaos Walking, the author raises many issues for discussion, among them gender roles and relations, the place of killing in our society, religion, utopianism, what growing up really means, and (in an allegorical way) the cost of our information-saturated culture. He also includes possibly the best talking-dog character in all of literature, a dog who talks just exactly the way you'd imagine a dog would, to endearing and devastating effect.
First, don't even think of reading this book if you don't like being left at a cliffhanger -- the one here is a doozy. Up until that point the suspense has ratcheted up and up, as has the graphic violence -- if they make a movie version of this, it will surely earn an R rating. Though too violent for younger readers, for mature teens this is a first-rate, thought-provoking, fast-moving thriller.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the violence here. Does the fantasy setting make it easier to handle?
This is a pretty dark description of a future world. Can you think of other books or movies in which the future is depicted? What is appealing about these stories? Why are these depictions often so disturbing?
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AGE
a good read for adults too!
This is a violent book but it does not glorify violence it really shows how brutality sickens the soul and twists the mind
The farm work is realistic unfortunately so is the hatred filled actions and statements from some characters.
This *is* a book that demands discussion after reading however so it might not be for everyone
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AGE
This is, hands down, the best book for younger readers that I have read. As a high school English teacher, I am in contact with teens all day long, and so I have a priviledged access to teens in their everyday lives. This book may well also be the best book written for teenaged boys, because Todd's struggle to be a man, and to come to terms with the mystery of what a girl is, as a different but equal being, goes to the heart of what boys struggle through on their way to becoming respectable and honourable men. Sadly, not all boys make it as far as Todd on this journey, and too many end up more like Davey Prentice. IT is violent, yes, but the violence is healthy: it hurts and hurts and hurts some more. It is not glorified or glamourous, it is real. So many important subjects are broached in this book, and all in the right ways. I read this book to my daughter when she was eleven, and she loved, so girls get it too. It rightly deserves the awards it has won, and because it is fiction, it makes the reality of war accessible to readers who are, thank God, almost completely sheltered from it. It is brilliant from end to end, funny and terribly powerful.
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AGE
An extraordinary read but only for those mature enough to cope with it.
The Knife of Never Letting Go is the first book in a truly incredible trilogy from Patrick Ness. The book is beautifully written, and keeps you engaged throughout with an engaging writing style and continuous dramatic and emotional twists in the story line. The book does contain some violence and bad language, and the general theme of the novel is too intense and difficult for younger readers to handle. However, it is a truly spectacular read for those mature enough to handle it.
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AGE
GREAT OPENER TO A GREAT SERIES (i think it's ok for 12+ though)
I read this when i was 12 and LOVED IT!!!! Like i say in some of my other reviews i belive 12+ can read this. I just beilve in the fact that each and every kid has a different maturity level. This book has great messages and strong charaters i look up to- even today. Stay true to yourself and you'll never know where life can take you.
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AGE
Perfect Book!!!
I absolutely LOVE this book. I read it over a two day period; I couldn't put it down! It was gripping, mysterious, funny, and tragic. My brother read it and was completely unfazed. In fact, he isn't the biggest reader, but he loved this book and wants the sequel. Sure, it's pretty scary at times, but it would be a bummer if you didn't let your kid read this wonderful book.
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AGE
The Knife of Never Letting Go 14+
It's very violent, gory and describes the gore in detail, and uses language, but it uses 'effing' in place of the word, using the real word once. it may be a little to violent for some, and if you have a weak stomach, don't read it. I'm 13, and I read it, but it might be better for older kids
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AGE
You need the stumach for it!
Bloody is one good word to describe it. There is A LOT of gore, some made me gag! One scene a man's nose is completely ripped off, described with no holding back. This book IS most definitely just chaos walking. A girl is drugged, and a death is token. I cried. If you think you can swallow it, go for it. It is a pretty well written novel. The ending will have you rushing to the nearest bookshop to purchase the sequel.
It is scary, and HEART- BREAKING!!!!!
If you can cry, and ignore the word f*** used ONCE, by a character. "Eff" is used a lot!
Characters drink wine, and the ending battle is BLOODY, worst than most of those vampire novels coming out now a days.
The book is good, and if gore isn't too much to you, read the book!
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AGE
One of the best books out there, but not for the sensitive or faint of heart!
The Chaos Walking series is a gripping, gritty thrill ride of emotion that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you experience emotion in the way almost no other book can. Patrick Ness takes a great idea and executes it flawlessly, creating a disturbing but highly believeable dystopia. Todd's narrative is endearing, intelligent, and strong as he struggles to realize what it takes to be a man in a world gone mad.
Patrick Ness can take a character, make you hate him, make you fear him, and then toss you into a point of view where you can't help but love him. In the case of Davy Prentiss, the Mayor's son, Ness creates a character who is at once corrupted, innocent, lovesick, and hateful. His growing feelings for Todd appear to be more than simple brotherly affection, and you will feel every blush, stomach-drop, and tummy-butterfly that Davy feels as he struggles to decide where his loyalties lie.
In conclusion, this series is dark, very dark, but it will take you on a ride that you'll never forget. Though it is definitely not for younger children, I can't help but think that it would be an excellent movie series as well. I eagerly anticipate the third book, and applaud Patrick Ness for creating a series in which I can find barely a flaw.
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AGE
For early to mid teens.
I loved it... it was violent at times and laguage was used but honesly kids are gonna hear it like its not as if a little five year old is reading it! Its an early to mid teens book... the plot is fantastic, the characters are believeable and a great message to fight for what you believe in! GO READ IT.
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AGE
Awsome!
Please Be Warned, this book is not for the faint hearted. It is truely awsome though. It has loads of killing refrences, but its all like; Your to weak! You can't kill! Your not a man ect.
It gets slightly tedious after a while. But there is lots of action, I love the characters, and the whole idea of noise, and new prentiss town, and spackle. Its so original, it just sucks you in. You just can't put it down.
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| Author: | Patrick Ness |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Publisher: | Candlewick Press |
| Publication date: | September 1, 2008 |
| Number of pages: | 479 |
| Hardcover price: | $18.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 13 |
| Read alone: | 13 |
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