The Impossible Knife of Memory book cover
9-12

The Impossible Knife of Memory

By Laurie Halse Anderson

For the past five years, Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own. Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.

Educator Resources

  • Educator Guide to Laurie Halse Anderson

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State Awards

Recommended reading lists from your state's teacher or librarian associations!
  • Arizona
    • Grand Canyon Reader Award, 2016
  • California
    • ACL Distinguished Books, 2014
    • California Young Reader Medal, 2016-2017
  • Colorado
    • Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2016
  • Florida
    • Joan F. Kaywell Book Award, 2017
    • Florida Teens Read Award, 2015-2016
  • Kansas
    • Kansas State Reading Circle, 2015
  • New Jersey
    • Garden State Teen Book Award, 2017
  • Texas
    • TAYSHAS Reading List, 2014
  • Maryland
    • Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2015-2016
  • Washington D.C.
    • Capitol Choices Reading List, 2014
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award, 2014-2015
  • South Carolina
    • South Carolina Children's Book Awards, 2015-2016
  • Indiana
    • Young Hoosier Book Award, 2015-2016
  • Nevada
    • Nevada Young Readers Award, 2018
  • Iowa
    • Iowa High School Book Award, 2015-2016
  • North Carolina
    • North Carolina Young Adult Book Award, 2015-2016

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