The Knife of Never Letting GoThe Knife of Never Letting Go
Score Modern
What it's about
Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men where everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts. A month before the birthday that will make him a man, he uncovers the town's secrets and is forced to run.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It's an unflinching novel about the impossible choices of growing up.
You'll love it if you liked
A Monster Calls
The Hunger Games
The GiverGood to know
It's intense. It's written for teens but read by all ages.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics41 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller32 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #124 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #266 of the 504 fantasy books we rank
- #946 of the 1,648 modern books we rank
- #1799 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic
More by Patrick Ness
If you like this, read next
Scythe
Skyward
Thief of Time
The Sword of Kaigen
The Alloy of Law
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Quick answers
Is The Knife of Never Letting Go worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best young-adult books. It ranks #1,799 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Knife of Never Letting Go about?
Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men where everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts. A month before the birthday that will make him a man, he uncovers the town's secrets and is forced to run.
How long does it take to read The Knife of Never Letting Go?
About 13 hours (512 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Knife of Never Letting Go?
If you liked it, try A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or The Giver by Lois Lowry.