Anderson delivers a brilliant gritty and haunting novel. The daily teenage struggles of Hayley are relatable (and a little bit cynical), and her suffering of her dad's PTSD is heart-breaking. This book is sure to affect you well after finishing it.

There is just something about realistic fiction that gets me. Like GETS ME.

I’d have to say that the prime suspect would be the voice. Writers like Laurie Halse Anderson write with this voice that is so raw and realistic, meaning teenagers like myself can really associate with the characters like Hayley.

Hayley was a fantastic character. She had spunk (I love that word) and attitude without being over the top or nasty or irritating. And if you pair a character like Hayley with a character like Finn, then you have pretty much reached character perfection. Finn was so cute and funny and I just loved their relationship.

Before I go any further, I just have to get this out there: I love the cover. It’s really cool in person.

I know that Laurie Halse Anderson has won tons of awards and I honestly have to say that that is what attracted me to The Impossible Knife of Memory. I had never read anything by her and I saw a copy of this at my library and kind of said “why not?”. I have to say that a topic like PTSD isn’t something that I hear much about so I wasn’t exactly tripping over myself to read a book about something I knew very little about. If Laurie Halse Anderson deals with the gritty stuff like she does in The Impossible Knife of Memory in all her books, then I see why they’re so popular. It’s not too tame and it’s not too graphic.

Expanding on my last point, that I think Laurie Halse Anderson did very well with including stuff about PTSD, I really liked the odd chapters written in italics of her father’s flashbacks to the war.

I would definitely recommend this if you are into realistic fiction. Don’t worry if you don’t know much about PTSD because as long as you know roughly what it is, you’ll be fine.

4/5 comets
A meteor shower. A great show.

The Impossible Knife of Memory is the second book Ive read by Laurie Halse Anderson - the first being Speak - and Im not entirely sure why Im not read any of her other books yet. Both were such beautifully written, gritty, realistic and compelling reads. I particularly enjoyed her latest book and can state with full confidence that its good reviews are more than deserved.

From the moment I picked this book up, I was unable to put it down. I read it in only a few hours in just one day. It was that good. Its an emotional rollercoaster and the reader can easily empathise with Hayley, the protagonist. The themes and issues tackled in this book are dark, but they were well-handled and came across as very realistic. I felt like I was right there with Hayley. I especially liked the fact that the protagonist wasnt the one with PTSD, but her father was. It allowed for a better understanding and appreciation for their relationship. Being in the shoes of someone who knows and lives with someone with PTSD provided a different perspective and emotional impact. It stresses the fact that its not only the individual thats impacted, but also those around them. I loved their relationship, because while there was a negative aspect to it, they had a close bond and Hayley had a lot of faith in him. At times its almost easy to dislike Andy for his actions, especially when hes under the influence of drugs or alcohol and does a lot of reckless things, but PTSD is rough. I cannot imagine how traumatising it must be to return to normality after experiencing war. Anderson portrayed him perfectly, particularly his ups-and-downs, and I appreciated that she didnt instantly click her fingers and make him better, no matter how much we might have wanted it. It was upsetting, when you become so attached to the characters, but it felt real and raw. It is generally a very gritty and emotional story, but you cant help but cling to the hope that things will get better. I grew so attached to the characters that I really wanted that for them, and Im satisfied with how it ended.

Something I love about Andersons books is how she compliments the dark subject matter with humour. I loved the banter between Hayley and Finn. Actually, I loved those two period. I looked forward to reading about them, because I genuinely loved the idea of the two of them together. It didnt feel rushed or anything like that - it felt real and exactly what the two of the needed. They were such a great balance to each other and they helped each other through the drama with their family, particularly Finn with Hayley. They had so many lovely moments, like their first anti-date, the quarry, swimming, etc. Finn had a such great personality and I just couldnt help but love him. He added some much-needed lightness to the book. I also liked Gracie and Topher, and some of the other minor characters who were interesting and well-written. It felt like they were all real people. The Impossible Knife of Memory could easily be someones actual story. I appreciate that - the fact that its realistic - with these kind of books, because it makes them even more powerful.

The Impossible Knife of Memory is perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson and those looking for a darker read. Its gritty and powerful, and the kind of book that is easily read in just one sitting. Without even knowing it, youll find yourself hooked into the story, in love with the characters and unable to get it out of your mind afterwards.