Impossible Knife of Memory (Anderson) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
Anderson's portrayal of families broken by war, death, divorce and addiction is stark and honest…Despite the heavy subject matter, Anderson's signature wry observations offer just enough comic relief…This book has a lot going on, no doubt. But at its heart is a tough yet fragile girl who wants what we all want: love, friendship and stability. Instead, she lives in a world in which the foundation beneath her feet is constantly shifting, and the relentless challenge to keep balance has worn her out…Anderson's novels (and others often labeled "too dark") 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.
Joel Knowles - New York Times Book Review


Andy comes home from the war in Iraq honored for his service, and haunted by it.  The war still goes on inside of him and threatens to make Hayley another causality. Laurie Halse Anderson is one of the best known writers of literature for young adults and children in the world.
Scott Simon - NPR Weekend Edition


The Impossible Knife of Memory isn’t always an easy read-Anderson’s gritty, authentic look at PTSD is by turns painful and heartbreaking-but it’s an important one.
Entertainment Weekly


Laurie Halse Anderson has been lauded and awarded for her ability to channel the teenage mind (and heart) dealing with tough issues. In The Impossible Knife of Memory, she takes on PTSD through the story of a girl coping with her troubled veteran dad.
Family Circle


(Starred review.) A riveting study of a psychologically scarred teenager... [T]he only family Hayley has left is her father, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, whose horrific flashbacks have brought chaos into their lives.... Hayley’s anxiety about her father’s unpredictable behavior reverberates throughout the novel, overshadowing and distorting her memories of better times.
Publishers Weekly


(Starred review.) With powerful themes of loyalty and forgiveness, this tightly woven story is a forthright examination of the realities of war and its aftermath on soldiers and their families. One of Anderson's strongest and most relevant works to date. Grade 9 and up. —Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA
School Library Journal


(Starred review.) Compelling, powerful, and timely.... This is challenging material, but in Anderson's skilled hands, readers will find a light shining on the shadowy reality of living with someone who has lived through war.
Booklist


Anderson sensitively addresses...physical recovery, grief and survivor's guilt, chemical dependency, panic attacks and suicidal tendencies—that veterans can face when trying to reintegrate. This is less a bravura performance than a solid one, but Hayley's strong, wryly vulnerable voice carries the narrative toward a resolutely imperfect, hopeful conclusion (14 & up) .
Kirkus Reviews