The Impossible Knife of Memory

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson deals closely with PTSD.

Plot Teaser
Hayley Kincain's father returned from Iraq five years ago, and for the intervening time, they've been on the road. Her dad has been a truck driver, educating her on the go, but now they've stopped. Her dad says Hayley has to attend a real high school for her senior year.

There are a lot of things Hayley dislikes about this situation. She likes traveling with her dad; she doesn't want to go to a normal school with a bunch of so-called "zombies." And staying in one place means that her dad's PTSD has more chances to flair up and make her life difficult.

At least high school has Finn, a boy who makes her want a normal high school relationship. But how is she meant to have a relationship when she's too busy taking care of her war-torn father?

Awards and Honors
The Impossible Knife of Memory has been nominated for a number of awards, including the National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2014); the Milwaukee County Teen Book Award (2015); the Silver Inky Award (2015); and the South Carolina Young Adult Book Award (2015).