≡ [PDF] The Ask and the Answer Chaos Walking Patrick Ness Books

The Ask and the Answer Chaos Walking Patrick Ness Books

Download As PDF : The Ask and the Answer Chaos Walking Patrick Ness Books

The Ask and the Answer Chaos Walking Patrick Ness Books

Patrick Ness must hate Suzanne Collins.

Why?

Raise your hand if you've ever heard of The Hunger Games Trilogy. Now raise your hand if you've ever heard of Chaos Walking Trilogy?

That's why.

But I can't figure out why. Both are series about dystopian futures staring young people trying to overthrow oppressive leaders. Both were published at the same time. Both sold film rights to Lions Gate Entertainment. Both are great.

The biggest difference? Chaos Walking is better--much better.

So why hasn't anyone heard of Chaos Walking? I don't know, but I'm about to do my part to correct this gross injustice.

For starters, check out what Wikipedia has to say for Chas Walking:

On the overall series, the Costa Prize Judges said that they were "convinced that this is a major achievement in the making," while the Guardian stated that "I would press Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking trilogy urgently on anyone, anyone at all. It is extraordinary." In their review of the final book, Publisher's Weekly called the series "one of the most important works of young adult science fiction in recent years." Robert Dunbar wrote in The Guardian that the series "will almost certainly come to be seen as one of the outstanding literary achievements of the present century, whether viewed as fiction for the young or for a wider readership."

The Knife of Never Letting Go was received with near universal praise for its originality and narration from critics such as Ian Chipman from Booklist and Megan Honig from The School Library Journal. It went on to win several awards and recognitions, including the Guardian Award, and the 2008 James Tiptree, Jr. Award.

The second book was also received well, with praise from Publishers Weekly, Children's Literature and Kirkus Reviews, all noting the excellent plot and cast. It was named as one of "the best YA science fiction novels of the year" by Publisher's Weekly while Kirkus called the characters "heartbreakingly real" and praised the questions brought up about "the meaning of war and the price of peace." The book won the 2009 Costa children's fiction prize and was recognized widely for its success.

The third book, Monsters of Men, has received greatly positive reviews and won the 2011 Carnegie Medal. It was also nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke award for best science fiction novel, only the second time that a young adult novel made it on to the shortlist.

All three books have been shortlisted for the Carnegie Book Award.

[...]

Convinced yet? Let's ask Wikipedia what it thinks of The Hunger Games:
Praise has focused on the addictive quality of especially the first book, and the action. John Green of The New York Times compared The Hunger Games with Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series. Catching Fire was praised for improving upon the first book. Mockingjay was praised for its portrayal of violence, world building, and romantic intrigue.

[...]

Not exactly gushing, is it.

The Chaos Walking Trilogy makes people gush.

How about some of my favorite quotes?

"We are the choices we make."
― Patrick Ness, The Knife of Never Letting Go

"Faith with proof is no faith at all."
― Patrick Ness, The Ask and the Answer

"Choices may be unbelievably hard but they're never impossible. To say you have no choice is to release yourself from responsibility and that's not how a person with integrity acts."
― Patrick Ness, Monsters of Men

"It's not how we fall. It's how we get back up again."
― Patrick Ness, Monsters of Men

Ready to give it a try? I'm not going to recap the synopsis, you can read that anywhere. Here's what you need to know from me that you can't get anywhere else:

Don't give up if you feel frustrated at the writing style after the first few pages. Patrick Ness uses his words as part of the story, and so his style feels a bit awkward at first. For example, some words are spelled fonetiklee because Todd can't read. Also the books are full of stream of consciousness sentences that would earn you an "F" if you tried to use them in English class. But it's intentional. The author's use of words adds to the feeling of the story and endures you to the characters.

And speaking of the characters . . .

The characters in Chaos Walking are some of the best I've ever read. Every character--from Todd and Viola even down to the horses they ride--is powerful and flawed and full of meaning. Todd, Viola, the Mayor are the major players, but there are no minor players. Everyone is important. Many times I'll describe a book as "character driven" or "plot driven." These books are both--enduring characters living through a powerful story.

And speaking of the story . . .

I typically don't like 1st person narration because it's so hard to get it right. The Chaos Walking Trilogy is written entirely 1st person--and it couldn't be any other way. It's what makes the story work, and I'm extremely impressed. Todd narrates the first book, Todd and Viola narrate the second, and the third book is narrated by Todd and Viola and one other special guest who I don't think I'll divulge . . . but just know that it works great.

And speaking of great . . .

Read Chaos Walking.

For you parents out there, here's what else you need to know. Chaos Walking has the same level of violence and death as that other trilogy. Also, there is some PG-13 language. I rate all three books 16+.


Tags : Amazon.com: The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking) (9781406310269): Patrick Ness: Books,Patrick Ness,The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking),Walker Books Ltd,1406310263,Hewitt, Todd Fictitious character - Fiction,(E) 12+ years; (3) Fiction; (N) Ordinary Printed Book Format; (7) Non-character; (9) Non Tie-in,CHILD: Graphic Novels,CHILD: Teenage Fiction,Children's Teenage fiction: General fiction,General fiction (Children's Teenage),Interest age: from c 12 years,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Dystopian,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Friendship,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Violence,Young Adult Fiction

The Ask and the Answer Chaos Walking Patrick Ness Books Reviews

The Ask and the Answer is a little bit different than The Knife of Never Letting Go...The story pretty much starts where The Knife's cliffy lets us hanging... Viola's life hanging in the balance and Todd facing down evil Mayor Prentiss with no hope in sight. But in part 2 of Chaos Walking, Viola and Todd become separated, and so the story is told from two perspectives. His and hers.

Through Todd we learn Haven surrendered to Mayor Prentiss, who then changed Haven's name to New Prentisstown and declared himself President of the New World. Mayor Prentiss is a sick twist, no doubt about it, and he didn't waste time learning that the best way to keep Todd in line is by holding Viola hostage. Todd is sent to work, under Davy Prentiss Jr's supervision, as a slave-driver, keeping the Spackle prisoners clearing the land.

Through Viola, we meet the healers, and a new character by the name of Mistress Coyle. Mistress Coyle tries to develop a relationship with Viola, asking her questions about the new settlers coming in, and pumping for information about the invading army, and trying to get Viola to understand that the decision to surrender was not a unanimous one. Unfortunately for Viola, it takes her too long to figure out Mistress Coyle isn't the beacon of hope she promises to be.

As a cold war turns red hot, Chaos Walking dives deeper into darker themes. Men and Women are separated by thought in book 1, but in book 2 they're separated by opinion, by walls, by curfews. And as President Prentiss's dictatorship thrives, he takes the Spackle servants of Haven and turns them into chattel. As President Prentiss begins to settle into his new role, revolutionaries flee, organize, and fight back; people get caught in the cross fire and terror spreads... Bringing the thin line that separates terrorism and revolution under stress.

I loved getting a closer look at Davy Prentiss Jr,. In book 1, he depicted as being as awful as his father and in book 2 we get to see why that is. First he's raised by a sociopath, then he's cast in the role of forever trying and failing to achieve his father's love... And as the new president tries to keep his new government together, the more it becomes blatantly obvious that blood's got little to do with family.

Todd and Viola are put under increasing pressure to conform and behave, so the other may live, so they might someday reunite... Even as they hold their survival first, they begin to recognize the cost of choosing sides in a war... The cost of lives of those stuck in the middle.

And just as the story is becomes overloaded with moral and emotional dilemmas, just as a full scale war for possession of the New World begins-- Another cliffhanger ending.

The only reason this story missed out on another five star rating I felt the author became inconsistent with Todd's narration. he only remembered once in awhile that Todd couldn't spell big words...Although that may have been an attempt at removing the last of the humor and evolving the story into more serious material... I was also a little peeved at another cliffhanger.
Patrick Ness must hate Suzanne Collins.

Why?

Raise your hand if you've ever heard of The Hunger Games Trilogy. Now raise your hand if you've ever heard of Chaos Walking Trilogy?

That's why.

But I can't figure out why. Both are series about dystopian futures staring young people trying to overthrow oppressive leaders. Both were published at the same time. Both sold film rights to Lions Gate Entertainment. Both are great.

The biggest difference? Chaos Walking is better--much better.

So why hasn't anyone heard of Chaos Walking? I don't know, but I'm about to do my part to correct this gross injustice.

For starters, check out what Wikipedia has to say for Chas Walking

On the overall series, the Costa Prize Judges said that they were "convinced that this is a major achievement in the making," while the Guardian stated that "I would press Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking trilogy urgently on anyone, anyone at all. It is extraordinary." In their review of the final book, Publisher's Weekly called the series "one of the most important works of young adult science fiction in recent years." Robert Dunbar wrote in The Guardian that the series "will almost certainly come to be seen as one of the outstanding literary achievements of the present century, whether viewed as fiction for the young or for a wider readership."

The Knife of Never Letting Go was received with near universal praise for its originality and narration from critics such as Ian Chipman from Booklist and Megan Honig from The School Library Journal. It went on to win several awards and recognitions, including the Guardian Award, and the 2008 James Tiptree, Jr. Award.

The second book was also received well, with praise from Publishers Weekly, Children's Literature and Kirkus Reviews, all noting the excellent plot and cast. It was named as one of "the best YA science fiction novels of the year" by Publisher's Weekly while Kirkus called the characters "heartbreakingly real" and praised the questions brought up about "the meaning of war and the price of peace." The book won the 2009 Costa children's fiction prize and was recognized widely for its success.

The third book, Monsters of Men, has received greatly positive reviews and won the 2011 Carnegie Medal. It was also nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke award for best science fiction novel, only the second time that a young adult novel made it on to the shortlist.

All three books have been shortlisted for the Carnegie Book Award.

[...]

Convinced yet? Let's ask Wikipedia what it thinks of The Hunger Games
Praise has focused on the addictive quality of especially the first book, and the action. John Green of The New York Times compared The Hunger Games with Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series. Catching Fire was praised for improving upon the first book. Mockingjay was praised for its portrayal of violence, world building, and romantic intrigue.

[...]

Not exactly gushing, is it.

The Chaos Walking Trilogy makes people gush.

How about some of my favorite quotes?

"We are the choices we make."
― Patrick Ness, The Knife of Never Letting Go

"Faith with proof is no faith at all."
― Patrick Ness, The Ask and the Answer

"Choices may be unbelievably hard but they're never impossible. To say you have no choice is to release yourself from responsibility and that's not how a person with integrity acts."
― Patrick Ness, Monsters of Men

"It's not how we fall. It's how we get back up again."
― Patrick Ness, Monsters of Men

Ready to give it a try? I'm not going to recap the synopsis, you can read that anywhere. Here's what you need to know from me that you can't get anywhere else

Don't give up if you feel frustrated at the writing style after the first few pages. Patrick Ness uses his words as part of the story, and so his style feels a bit awkward at first. For example, some words are spelled fonetiklee because Todd can't read. Also the books are full of stream of consciousness sentences that would earn you an "F" if you tried to use them in English class. But it's intentional. The author's use of words adds to the feeling of the story and endures you to the characters.

And speaking of the characters . . .

The characters in Chaos Walking are some of the best I've ever read. Every character--from Todd and Viola even down to the horses they ride--is powerful and flawed and full of meaning. Todd, Viola, the Mayor are the major players, but there are no minor players. Everyone is important. Many times I'll describe a book as "character driven" or "plot driven." These books are both--enduring characters living through a powerful story.

And speaking of the story . . .

I typically don't like 1st person narration because it's so hard to get it right. The Chaos Walking Trilogy is written entirely 1st person--and it couldn't be any other way. It's what makes the story work, and I'm extremely impressed. Todd narrates the first book, Todd and Viola narrate the second, and the third book is narrated by Todd and Viola and one other special guest who I don't think I'll divulge . . . but just know that it works great.

And speaking of great . . .

Read Chaos Walking.

For you parents out there, here's what else you need to know. Chaos Walking has the same level of violence and death as that other trilogy. Also, there is some PG-13 language. I rate all three books 16+.