Phew that was a bit of a marathon! A whole series of Young Adut Fiction read and totally enjoyed. I just loved this series, especially the first book. Oh my god, the first book was brilliant and when I finished it I was in such a panic to get my hands on the second one I phoned up the Bicester library, found out they had it and ran down at 6.55pm just before it closed.( none of the shops here had a copy to buy!)
Patrick Ness has created a great story here, all set on another planet where exiled humans turn up in their spaceships. They are creating a new world and as expected things go wrong, very wrong. On this planet the indigenous creatures are obviously strange and need to be killed or tamed and men also have the added burden of all of their thoughts being instantly transmitted in NOISE to every single person. Every thought and hidden feeling is instantly heard or seen by everyone. oF course this sends the men a bit mad and it's a bit of a burden having to hear and see the inner thoughts of everyone. There is just no secrecy and most men are just thinking lots of annoying nonsense anyway! The worst thing is that women don't transmit this noise and their thoughts remain private. This obvious unexpected difference creates problems and war as communities fight over the kind of world they want to live in.
Phew, it all sounds pretty heavy and to be honest lots of the ideas are, but they are cleverly told through the adventures of Todd, Viola and Manchee their dog as they travel away from Prentistown, a town with no women or children.( all the women mysteriously died) to find a better life. Todd is the youngest boy in the town and when he turns 14 he will find out the secrets of this woman free town and his father wants him to escape to find a better life. Todd has to run away quickly with just his mother's diary ( which he can't read because education is banned in this town) without any knowledge because if he had any knowledge of anything the elders would be able to read what he was thinking in his NOISE and stop him.
Anyway, then the story really kicks in. We meet men who can control their noise, learn about the terrorists who are fighting for freedom, witness a genocide of the local species, see how Todd succumbs to the power of leadership, see bravery when we least expect it. Witness mass branding of the women, see how fighting is a never ending display of bravado at the expense of the powerless, how to control feelings of revenge, the power of negotiation, how easily young people can be radicalised by their elders, how to deal with refugees and the innocent displaced masses and a great adventure story as Todd and Viola travel across this land trying to find peace.
Yes, it all sound really worthy but it isn't. The inner life of the young are really well described here and it's all very exciting but the adult characters are a bit one dimensional...but hey, this isn't surpring this book is for teenagers but I just wanted more depth to the adult characters as well!
The third book did get a bit preachy and boring for me...I had gone off the boil after the excitement of the first two but worth the read. Especially reading how easily vulnerable children can get brainwashed. A great read for anyone over 12 I reckon....actually maybe older because many parts of this book did give me graphic nightmares!
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