Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.Īutumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart their mothers are still best friends. Attempting to address adolescent angst, information overload and war, Ness ends up delivering merely noise. Ness’s attempt to develop Todd’s character by including colloquialisms in nearly every aspect of the narrative only succeeds in driving readers out of the tale.

Viola’s page presence is so weak as to be forgettable, though Manchee, Todd’s loyal dog, will grow on readers as the narrative progresses. Events pile up and then freeze while Todd addresses an emotional crisis. Uneven pacing and an unbelievable premise hobble this work, Ness’s first attempt at YA fiction. In fleeing Prentisstown, Todd and Viola discover its ugly history and terrifying plans. He quickly goes from outcast to target after finding two surprises in Prentisstown’s swamp: a wrecked colony spaceship and Viola, the first girl he has ever seen. Growing up on an alien planet where thoughts are broadcast and animals speak, 12-year-old Todd is the last boy in a town of men.

Patrick ness the knife of letting go