The Impossible Knife Of Memory

The Impossible Knife Of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, 391 pages

Hayley is in a real school again for the first time in five years. Her father says she needs to spend her senior year in a real school to help her get ready for college, so instead of riding along in her dad’s big rig being homeschooled, they are back in her grandmother’s house, where she lived until she was seven. The other reason they are there is that Hayley’s dad never really recovered from the war, and now he is getting worse. Driving the truck wasn’t an option anymore. Unfortunately, he’s having trouble holding down any kind of job. Hayley is afraid for her dad and despite having friends at school, including Gracie and Finn (boyfriend or not?) she doesn’t really feel like anyone can help. Laurie Halse Anderson tells another great story about an issue that many teens could be dealing with today. This book could appeal to many teens, both girls and boys. Despite the fact that the main character is a girl, boys could easily relate to the issues and enjoy the story.