The Impossible Knife of Memory

The Impossible Knife of Memory Synopsis

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.