Review found at http://www.nightlyreading.wordpress.com 
 I have no idea of even where to begin to describe this book. It is a very different type of dystopian novel. Patrick Ness did a wonderful job of bringing the two main characters together and letting the reader learn about each of their stories along with them. 
 Todd lives in Prentisstown with Cillian and Ben. His father died from the sickness when he was just a young un and his mother died shortly thereafter. Cillian and Ben were friends of Todd's mother and promised to take good care of him. In Prentisstown, when boys turn the age of 13, they become a man. Todd has 30 days until he is a man. There are no women/girls in Prentisstown, they all caught the virus and died. Todd is the last boy to become a man. 
 The one major problem that Todd has with Prentisstown is the noise. The men can all read each other's thoughts, as well as the animals. Todd does not like the noise. One day when Todd and his dog Manchee are out picking apples, Todd hears silence. This is very unusual for him since all he has ever known is the Prentisstown men's noise. He gets scared and runs on home. Unfortunately, he cannot hide his noise and soon, the town's people know that he has heard silence. Soon, Ben and Cillian are sending him away, telling him he has to go and he will know what to do. Armed with a knife, his mother's journal, food and his dog, Todd is running away from the only life he has ever known. It does not take him long to find the silence again. That is when he finally meets a girl.....Viola. 
 This story is a truly fast paced adventure of a young girl, a young boy and his dog running literally for their lives. My favorite character is Manchee. He is hilarious and exactly what I expect my dogs are thinking. 
 I am so excited to read the next book, The Ask and The Answer. 
 Thank you to Candlewick Press for the book used for this review.