Todd and Viola are once again separated as the war between the Mayor’s Army, the Answer, and the Spackle erupts in New Prentisstown in this final entry in the “Chaos Walking” trilogy that began with The Knife of Never Letting Go (2008) and continued with The Ask and the Answer (2009), both published in the United States by Candlewick Press. Under the impression that it will keep Viola safe, Todd intentionally becomes the Mayor’s right-hand man, although the Mayor is influencing Todd in more ways than Todd will admit. Viola, encamped with the Answer and increasingly ill, is growing wary of Todd’s ability to silence his Noise and to control the thoughts of others—tactics the Mayor used so successfully in his chilling rise to power. The Spackle are given voice in this volume through the character of #1017, illuminating the collective conscious of this indigenous group. Innately peaceful, they are challenged by #1017’s obsession to seek revenge on “The Knife,” his name for Todd. Author Patrick Ness continues to explore critical questions about war versus terrorism and what sacrifices can or should be made to achieve a greater good in this fast-paced, suspenseful conclusion to the series. (Age 12 and older)

Three armies march on New Prentisstown, each one intent on destroying the others. Todd and Viola are caught in the middle, with no chance of escape. As the battles commence, how can they hope to stop the fighting? How can there ever be peace when they're so hopelessly outnumbered?