The Ask and the Answer is a 2009 young-adult science fiction novel written by British-American author Patrick Ness.

It is the second book in the Chaos Walking series, preceded by The Knife of Never Letting Go and followed by Monsters of Men.

They have led some women out of New Prentisstown to form a resistance movement, reconvened from the time of the Spackle War, known as "The Answer", to carry out bombings in the city.

He promotes Todd and Davy into this unit, where New Prentisstown residents are captured and tortured for information on The Answer.

Mistress Coyle returns to recruit Viola, who feels forced to join, knowing about Mayor Prentiss' tortures.

Horrified at the genocide, the perpetrator still unknown, the Mayor teaches Todd a chant that calms his Noise.

Noticing that there is something darker to his personality, Viola still urges Todd to leave with them, warning that the attack will come from the south.

Prentiss still wants Todd to join him despite his betrayal; he reveals that he has never taken the cure, instead training his Noise via the chant to silence, which also allows him to control others with his mind.

In desperation, Todd holds Davy at gunpoint, threatening to kill him if Prentiss does not release Viola.

A horn sounds to warn of an army of Spackle marching towards the city, seeking revenge for the genocide.

Publishers Weekly praised the brilliant cast, and believed it to be "among the best YA science fiction novels of the year", including it in their best books of 2009,[1] while Anita Barnes Lowen from Children's Literature labelled the book "a stunning not-to-be-missed science fiction adventure.

"[2] The Independent on Sunday said that "... it is every bit as ambitious as the first book but the ambition is easily matched by the execution, with powerful prose and tight plotting that pull the reader on at a terrifying speed.

"[3] Kirkus Reviews noted that the plot was "breathless... with heartbreakingly real characters"[2] and the Costa Book Awards 2009 judges recognised the novel as "a strikingly original and compelling work.