Winner Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2008

The astonishing opener to Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking trilogy, soon to be a major feature film starring Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley and Mads Mikkelsen

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown. But Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets. Or are there?

Just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd unexpectedly stumbles upon a spot of complete silence. Which is impossible. Prentisstown has been lying to him. And now he's going to have to run...