The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

Release Date: January 7th, 2014
Publisher: Penguin Canada | Viking
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 384 Pages
Series: None
Format: Hardcover
Source: From the Publisher
Reason: For Review | Personal interest
Find the Author: Website
Buy the Book:  Amazon CA | Amazon

For the past five years, Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.
Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over?

“Leaning against my father, the sadness finally broke open inside me, hollowing out my heart and leaving me bleeding. My feet felt rooted in the dirt. There were more than two bodies buried here. Pieces of me that I didn’t even know were under the ground. Pieces of dad, too.”-- Hayley 

Oh boy! The Impossible Knife of Memory drove a knife right through my heart. What a heart wrenching novel. Laurie Halse Anderson can truly do no wrong. She knows how to pen those raw, realistic characters, and pairs them with realistic plots that can be haunting, and beautiful all at once.

Anderson delivers a compelling novel with a plot line shining light on a situation that is an issue in many homes: PTSD aka. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. You are hearing more and more on the news of brave soldiers returning home and then having to deal with PTSD. It's sad, but as Anderson has proven in her books, it's real. This actually happens. And families and kids have to deal with this just like Hayley herself had to do. It's devastating.

A simple writing style that has a lyrical flow makes Hayley's story bounce right off the pages and surround you. Delivered in such a way that makes you feel as if you are Hayley's dear friend, a confidant. What a privilege.

Realistic and raw. Heartbreaking and funny. This book was a genuinely beautiful experience!

In One Word

 Cover Love

The Impossible Knife of Memory inspired me to listen to: