The Ask and the Answer

Reader: Sophie D
Age: 14
Title: The Ask and the Answer
Author: Patrick Ness
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pub Date: 2009
Galley: No
Nominate for Teens’ Top 10: Yes
Annotation: After reaching what was once the town of Haven, now New Prentisstown, Todd and Viola are separated from each other. Each becomes crucial to one of the warring armies. Will they be able to fight for what is right, overcome fear, and most of all, stay true to each other?
Did the cover tempt you: The cover is nice and simple, not overdone, yet not boring. After reading the first book, the cover kind of creeped me out, because the bad guys are usually riding horses.
Recommend: Yes
Convince us to read the book: It is the perfect companion to the first book. The plot is horribly depressing, and also kind of a set up for the next book, but you know you can't trust anyone and have to read to the end.
Compelling Aspect of the Book: The way the characters change is fascinating. Both the main characters are barely recognizable by the end of the book, and characters who I started out hating redeem themselves and I was very sad when they died.
Did you finish: Yes
Were you disappointed with the book at all: I could not find anything about this book to be disappointing.
Age Range: 12-17
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal