The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

Pages: 391
Intended Audience: Teens
Genre: Real life drama
Notes for Parents: Includes some mature scenes, description of war, violence.

The Inside Cover

For the past five years, Hayley Kincain and her father, Andy, have been on the road, trying to outrun the memories that haunt them both. They moved back to Andy’s hometown to try a “normal” life, but the horrors he saw in the war threaten to destroy their lives. Hayley watches, helpless, as her father turns to drugs and alcohol to silence his demons. And then her own past creeps up, and everything falls apart.
How do you keep your father alive when death is stalking him? What are you supposed to do when your parent stops acting like an adult? And what happens if a sweet guy who can make you laugh barges his way into your world and for the first time, you find yourself thinking about the future?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author was inspired to write this story by her nephew who served overseas, but also buy her own, deeply personal story, of growing up with her father who was haunted by his experiences in World War II.

What’s good?

Hailey has found a way to adapt to a life that is dictated by her father’s PTSD. The result is a disillusioned young girl who lacks faith in everyone around her. The story follows her fear and anger filled daily life as she parents her mentally ill father and tries to live a normal life. All of the characters are portrayed with the author’s trademark authenticity. The narrative is well-paced and easy to read, making a fairly simple story out of a very complex subject.

Best Part: The clever banter (not entirely believable for a couple of teens) between Hailey and Finn. For example:

“The warped perception of time is a hallmark of trauma,” he said. “I’ve counseled a lot of superheroes. They all struggle with it.”
“Oh, really?” My hand dropped to touch his.
“Superheroes can be a pain in the balls,” he said. “Always acting tough, pretending nothing hurts.”
“What do you do with them?”
“Most of them go to a llama farm in New Mexico to meditate and spin wool. I don’t dare send you there.” He tugged gently, pulling me closer. “You’d scare the llamas.”
“You defame me, sir,” I said. “I am a kind and gentle friend of llamas.”...

What isn’t good?

This is not the author’s best work. Though her portrayal of an ex-soldier with PTSD is done with sensitivity, it’s fairly simplistic and perhaps misses the important nuances that anyone dealing with mental illness knows well. Hailey’s abandonment issues also seem to be glossed over.
Worst part: The texting bits – who writes like that?

Recommendation þþþoo

This is a beautiful story with funny bits and sad bits and even a few scary parts, but it’s by no means as memorable as some of the author’s other works. Despite a lack of depth in spots, I still recommend this heart-wrenching story.

Anderson, Laurie Halse. The Impossible Knife of Memory. New York: Viking, 2014 (Hardcover)