The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

In a town inhabited solely by men, Todd Hewitt is the last boy, and the last innocent. That will change in one month when he turns thirteen and becomes a man. The secrets of Prentisstown are many and dark, although it should be difficult to keep secrets in a place where everyone can hear the "noise" or thoughts of everyone else, including animals. When Todd stumbles upon absolute silence for the first time in his life, he encounters something he never thought he would see...a girl. Todd had been told that all women and girls died years ago when the noise germ was released. Todd soon learns that almost everything he has been told is a lie. As Todd begins to learn the truth about his town and its history, he and the girl must run for their lives. The secrets of the past begin to unfold as Todd learns what it truly means to be a man.

*Slight spoiler alert*
This book started slowly, but I was soon completely engrossed. Todd is a compelling character and the action keeps the story moving quickly towards the conclusion. Unfortunately, the conclusion never comes. Granted, this is the first book in a series, Chaos Walking, but I expected at least some satisfaction. No. This book cannot stand alone. It ends in a cliffhanger that leaves you desperate for the second book, which is obviously the point. My advice, wait for the entire series before you begin or be prepared for disappointment.