The Impossible Knife of Memory

Book review by Kate Pavao, Common Sense Media
The Impossible Knife of Memory Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Stunning story about girl living with wounded vet father.

Laurie Halse Anderson Coming of Age 2014
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 5 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Impossible Knife of Memory is about a girl living with her father, a veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq who suffers intense post-traumatic stress disorder. He recalls the horrors of war, including seeing a woman with no face after an explosion and bombing a house full of women and children by mistake. An alcoholic, he's also violent at home, punching the wall, stabbing the furniture, getting in bar fights, and attempting suicide. His daughter, Hayley, remembers him shooting a TV set in a hotel room. There's some swearing, teen drug experimentation, and an encounter in which Hayley and her boyfriend nearly have sex but don't. The book could spark thoughtful discussions about veterans and how to best support them and their families.

Community Reviews

heatherjr1998
heatherjr1998 Adult
March 31, 2016
age 14+

Fantastic!

I ran across this book on accident and was in a hurry to find something to read, so I just picked it up and started reading. In the beginning I was a little skeptical but just a few pages in and I couldn't put it down. This book is amazing! There's not one emotion you don't feel when you're reading this. This book should become a movie because I feel everyone should get to experience this story.

This title has:

Great messages
CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
March 12, 2015
age 15+
After years spent on the road outrunning bad memories, blue-haired teen Hayley Kincaid and her troubled, army veteran father return to their hometown in New York. Having been home-schooled for the last five years, Hayley cautiously re-enters the world of traditional learning, a repulsive realm populated by high school "zombies" (the in-crowd) and a few rebellious "freaks" like herself. Although she impresses few at first with her snarky attitude, she slowly becomes accustomed to her new life, and even gathers a handful of friends (other "freaks" like herself). In the back of her mind, though, is a fear that no teen should have to worry about: the constant, sickening fear for her father's declining mental health. While the prose lacks the gritty, lyrical beauty found in Anderson's previous novel, Wintergirls, this newest offering succeeds in painting a touching, realistic, and perilous portrait of a new era of social issues. Recommended for Ages 15-Up.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Hayley tries to prop up her father, an Army veteran wounded both physically and emotionally. But now that they've returned to live in his late mother's house, his problems only seem to grow worse -- he gets into fights, is fired from a string of jobs, and even intimidates Hayley's boyfriend. Hayley constantly monitors her dad, but the daily burden of figuring out how to act around him and checking to see whether he's been in an auto accident is far too much for her to carry, especially as she's dealing with her own painful past. She works hard to repress childhood memories of a stepmother who abandoned her, even as the same woman wants back into their lives.

Is It Any Good?

Readers will find themselves quickly immersed in THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE OF MEMORY, a thick, rich, compelling book. They'll easily empathize with Hayley, who feels responsible for taking care of her broken father, even though she does worrisome or frustrating things, such as blowing off her schoolwork or pushing away a boy who really cares for her. Teens will learn something about the horrors of war through Hayley's father's graphic flashbacks and their aftermath in the pair's chaotic life since he's been back home.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about movies and books that deal with war. Why do you think it's such a common theme, both the conflicts and their aftereffects?

  • Do you think that we as a country do enough to support our veterans, both medically and emotionally?

  • Author Laurie Halse Anderson's critically acclaimed books feature such intense subject matter as rape, eating disorders, and slavery. Have you read any of them? What do they have in common with The Impossible Knife of Memory?

Book Details

  • Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
  • Genre: Coming of Age
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Penguin Group
  • Publication date: January 7, 2014
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
  • Number of pages: 400
  • Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
  • Last updated: July 12, 2017

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love Coming-of-age stories

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