The Impossible Knife of Memory - Laurie Halse Anderson

The Impossible Knife of Memory

By Laurie Halse Anderson

  • Release Date: 2014-01-07
  • Genre: Coming of Age Fiction for Young Adults
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 87 Ratings

Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Dive into this unforgettable young adult novel by the award-wining author of Speak and discover the impossible choices a family can face in the wake of a traumatic past.

“Anderson’s novels . . . speak for the still-silent among us, and force all of us to acknowledge the real and painful truths that are too dangerous to ignore.”—The New York Times

“With her trademark hope, humor, and heart-breaking realism, Laurie Halse Anderson has given us a roadmap to heal.”—Stephen Chobsky, New York Times bestselling author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

When you’re forced to grow up too fast, it’s hard to slow down.

Hayley Kincain has two jobs: attending high school and caring for her father, Andy, a war veteran who suffers from PTSD. Hayley and Andy never stay in one place for too long, always picking up and leaving as soon as the demons torturing Andy become too much to bear. But when Hayley meets Finn, she finally allows herself to let go, finding solace in every moment they spend together. He becomes her refuge, her home. Then Andy’s symptoms begin to resurface, and Hayley is forced to make a decision: continue to keep running from her father’s illness, or face reality for a chance to hold on to the one thing that makes her truly happy.

Reviews

  • Stunning!

    5
    By Sk8rGhost
    An absolutely breathtaking story of life, love, and living with someone who has a mental illness. Anderson's writing left me speechless!
  • Shocked

    5
    By Annalisssaalopez
    I dreaded reading a book for my summer assignment but by much surprise, I was hooked once I read more and more and finished in less than a week! I hardly read nor get interested in books like I did with this one, now I just want to read more.
  • Phenomenal!

    5
    By Coco Puff xo
    Phenomenal! I'm amazed by Laurie Halse Anderson! Every book delivers something brilliant and unexpected. There are very few books which address PTSD like this book. Often associated with war, PTSD "may develop after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, such as sexual assault, warfare, serious injury, or threats of imminent death." All of the character is this novel deal with some measure of PTSD. The father, Andy is the obvious messenger, but Finn, Gracie, Trisha, and of course the main character Hayley. It's about being on the brink and find a way back. It's amazing and superbly written.
  • Just plain wow😄😊😍🙉🙊👌👏

    5
    By BookGirl😜
    I read this book and I just finished it.😍 It is so worth the read.✊ Detailed right and so interesting.👌 As soon I started reading it I could not stop!😊 It was fantastic and plainly amazing!💕 A must read book📖
  • TIKOM

    5
    By Kcjc
    It's fabulous!