Perhaps it should be called The Great Questions. This is the second installment in a planned science fiction trilogy titled "Chaos Walking" ( how could I resist?) from Patrick Ness. I ran across this one on a sale cart and, even though I hadn't read the first book in the series, picked it up just because it got so much chatter on the YA listservs. Complex characters, plots and interactions between characters are mixed in with non-stop action on this outpost of human exploration called New World. The native species, the Spackle, have apparently been defeated in a brutal war and now civil war among the settlers has broken out with one man--Mayor Prentiss-- apparently stopping at nothing to become leader. He recognizes the potential threat from the anticipated arrival of new ships with additional settlers, and so it is essential that he get information from Viola, who was the lone survivor of a scout ship that crashed. She has been befriended by Todd, and they are on the run, when Viola is shot and they desperately seek help in the town of New Haven. That's what I was able to surmise about the first installment, The Knife of Never Letting Go. This book takes up as they are captured in New Haven which has already surrendered to the invading army. Todd and Viola are separated and skillfully--and horribly--manipulated by two strong leaders, Prentiss and Mistress Coyle, a former leader of the resistance (aka the Answer)and also a healer by training. The moral issues are complex and one despairs of anything coming right as we alternately take our place in the action from first Todd's and then Viola's perspective. This is one where I would definitely recommend reading the first book before jumping into the second. Although it was a compelling read, you can't help but feel that you've missed a lot. But get busy because the next book is coming out this spring!
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