Book Review: The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

Title: The Impossible Knife of Memory

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: January 7^th, 2014

ISBN: 9781622664658

Rating: 5/5

Cover Impressions: Amazing.

I received copies of The Impossible Knife of Memory and Catalyst (see below) by Laurie Halse Anderson from Scholastic publishing house and was very excited to delve into them because I have read another book by this author – Chains, which was very good.

Synopsis: Hayley Kincaid divides the human race into two types of people: the freaks and the zombies. Her lack of faith in her fellow man makes sense – she spent the past five years on the road with her father, Andy, a war veteran who resorts to alcohol and drugs to escape his demons. He decides that they should move back to his hometown, so that Hayley can start school and have a ‘normal’ life. Except nothing in her life is normal. Not Andy’s PTSD that still plagues him and leaves him screaming in his sleep, not Gracie her best friend who suffers family issues of her own and certainly not Finn the attractive nerd with a disarming smile and a whole host of secrets. As Hayley’s bond with Finn escalates, she fights the memories that threaten to rise up and tear her apart again and again until there’s nothing left.

Review: Hayley is a brilliant character and I connected to her right away. She is powerful and sassy with just a little touch of acid. But beneath all her joking and side remarks lies a pain-ridden emotional undercurrent. With the use of flashbacks Laurie Halse Anderson carefully reveals to the reader not only Andy’s experience as a soldier but also to Hayley’s past and her suffering to.

I adored the romance that sparked between Hayley and her friend Finn. Their banter was entertaining and their chemistry and deeper conversations left me in awe of how good Laurie Halse Anderson’s writing really is.

Hayley’s Dad completed two tours of Iraq and Afghanistan; Laurie Halse Anderson portrays the aftermath of this wonderfully. The book takes the reader on a journey as Andy faces his PTSD and loses himself to alcohol and drugs leaving Hayley to pick up the pieces. The Impossible Knife of Memory is raw, truthful and haunting.

Overall, I can truthfully say that this is one of the best books I have ever read. On the back of the copy of the book that I read, there are two quotes from two very well-known authors. The first is from Jodie Picoult, author of My Sister’s Keeper, she said that The Impossible Knife of Memory is “heart breaking”. The second is from Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, he said; “with her trademark hope, humour and heart breaking realism Laurie Halse Anderson has given us a roadmap to heal”. I cannot sum up The Impossible Knife of Memory any better than they can, I give it five out of five stars, and it was as close to perfect as it could be.

I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Can't wait to get your hands on it? Read an except now:

(Hi Sophia, *waves* thank you for sending me To All the Boys I've Loved Before, I can't wait to read it and my review should be up soon).