The importance of family i think is one of the more obvious ones throughout the story. The impossible knife of memory goes on sale january do not listen to zombies. Laurie halse andersons the impossible knife of memory is, in many ways, a departure for the bestselling author. Knifewhat did hayley have to write in detention on the first page. The impossible knife of memory glossary gradesaver. 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. Laurie halse andersons memory recalls struggle with ptsd. The impossible knife of memory hayley kincain is 15 years old and on the run with her father, andy.
The impossible knife of memory was inspired by anderson s own father who was a world war 2 veteran. Jan 07, 2014 yet not the impossible knife of memory. Jan 23, 2014 the impossible knife of memory is my first laurie halse andersons book. Pretty much the most solid life advice weve ever heard. The impossible knife of memory background gradesaver. This is a major theme of the novel, as anderson includes many scenes in which flashbacks occur, and show exactly what andy and hayley have gone through in their previous endeavours. The impossible knife of memory was certainly no exception. Questions to accompany impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson. Having read and enjoyed several of laurie halse andersons books speak and wintergirls are a couple of my favorites, i was super excited to win an advance copy of the impossible knife of memory, a. I think the impossible knife rips further in the novel will distract hayley from reality while giving her memories of the past. Anderson used this to describe how the people at her school act, relating them to. The impossible knife of memory book trailer youtube. The impossible knife of memory 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.
Booktalking the impossible knife of memory by laurie. The impossible knife of memory laurie halse anderson insight into hayley pages 6, 7, and 8 describes hayley. I needed to hear the world but didnt want the world to know i was listening. The impossible knife of memory, although dark at times, also has plenty of moments of sardonic wit or outright humor, and it also has a sweet, realistic love story at its heart. In the impossible knife of memory, anderson sensitively portrays a growing, complex problem particularly relevant in the united states today. An example of the impossible knife of memory is, stared at the zombies on the sidewalk dramatically reciting their lines, stalking to the edges of their life, playing at life. Its definitely not a light and fun book as it tackles some difficult things but it managed to be balanced by hayleys humor and irreverent nature seriously, girl is a firecracker. Though ive known about her works since speak my queen kristen stewart is the melinda sordino on the movie version. This was a pleasant enough young adult novel dealing with themes of ptsd and. Jan 12, 2014 in the impossible knife of memory, anderson sensitively portrays a growing, complex problem particularly relevant in the united states today. In an attempt, to check on her father and make sure he was okay, hayley asks finn for a ride home in the middle of the day. The impossible knife of memory quotes by laurie halse anderson. The impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson photograph. In the novel, the impossible knife of memory, andy, hayley, and finn all experience the struggle of addiction and the toll that it takes on families.
Hayley is a senior in high school and has returned to public school after being homeschooled by her father for years while they were on the road with his working as a trucker. The impossible knife of memory begins with an uncompromising introduction by the narrator, hayley. Dicussion and essay answers impossible knife of memory. Apr 15, 2014 the impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson. Hes come home from the war in iraq, both honored for his service and haunted by it. With any writing they do, its important to give them models so they understand the expectations. Quote from the impossible knife of memory by laurie halse. Entertainment weekly andy comes home from the war in. Laurie halse anderson makes the impossible knife of memory. I pull up the impossible knife of memory booktalk that i wrote on the board. The impossible knife of memory study guide contains a biography of laurie halse anderson, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. She has been home schooled by her dad, a haunted war vet suffering from worsening ptsd for several years. You get so much out of this book, you just feel like life is worth living, and when it comes to the end, you are heartbroken.
Thats not to say her other books arent good, because they. The the impossible knife of memory community note includes chapterby chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author. Powerful, compassionate, and achingly authentic, the impossible knife of memory bravely addresses how long trauma can persist and how much help it requires to overcome. The impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson twenty. A symbol for hayley is a nurse because she takes very good care of her father at the beginning, but strays away in the end because he doesnt want her help and keeps pushing her away. For the past five years, hayley kincaid and her father, andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as. Hayley also helped andy through his problems wen she said at the quarry. Andersons newest novel is the first of all her postspeak books to move me by its own merits. Audio name pronunciation with laurie halse anderson.
Hayley is a high school senior, somewhere in the albany, ny area. Hayley comes home demanding to see the spot where her mother and gramma are buried. A second very important theme which also had to do with the suicide attempt was man versus himself. Laurie halse anderson, the impossible knife of memory. Like her novels teen character haley, anderson is the daughter of a veteran who suffered from the aftershocks of war. Jan 06, 2014 laurie halse anderson on speak, censorship, and the impossible knife of memory by. The impossible knife of memory npr coverage of the impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson. This causes her to give up and stop caring about him. Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and videos from thousands of public libraries worldwide. The impossible knife of memory is based on laurie halse andersons own experiences with, and memories of, a father with ptsd, so hayleys struggles ring painfully, tragically true. In this poem, prelutsky explains his views on that day.
Despite my best intentions, i was beginning to understand how my dad saw the world. There are a couple different themes shown throughout the book. One theme from the impossible knife of memory is that you can never really understand what someone else is going through or experiencing. The impossible knife of memory ikm is very good, a 4. Trailer for the impossible knife of memory by laurie halse. Theres definitely some great writing here that is worth talking about. The impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson ya this was a great read by one of my favorite authors. The impossible knife of memory characters gradesaver. The impossible knife of memory by kayla montalbo on prezi. The the impossible knife of memory community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author. The impossible knife of memory quotes showing of 92 i needed to hear the world but didnt want the world to know i was listening. The impossible knife of memory isnt always an easy readandersons gritty, authentic look at ptsd is by turns painful and heartbreakingbut its an important one.
The impossible knife of memory someday my printz will come. Npr coverage of the impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson. Laurie halse anderson makes the impossible knife of. This helps them to see what a booktalk looks like so they can practice on their own. Kincain went from sitting in the passenger seat of her fathers truck, to having to attend high school at belmont high school. Theme analysis extra credit works cited katherines english project the impossible knife of memory. The impossible knife of memory is a positive story, where events.
About the author laurie halse anderson was born, and still lives, in northern new york, usa. The impossible knife of memory booktalk video betterlesson. And like speak, the impossible knife of memory interlaces its serious content with threads of dark humor. In the impossible knife of memory, she applies her considerable talent for writing intense, authentic narratives to the timely and moving topic of a teen coping with a parents posttraumatic stress disorder. Again, hayleys words helped her family through even the toughest problems. Laurie halse andersons impossible knife of memory the. Like most of her others, andersons latest novel out january 7, the impossible knife of memory, about a teenage girl dealing with her.
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. For those who are curious, the other two were speak and catalyst. The impossible knife of memory is my third laurie halse anderson read and also my favorite. I read speak somewhere around the age of twelve or thirteen. The students are asked to compare odysseus and mother theresa. 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.
Perfectly innocent kid is born whose life will be screwed up by her parents forever. Will being back home help andys ptsd, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over. The impossible knife of memory laurie halse anderson free. The impossible knife of memory is dark, hilarious, oh so quotable, and has a truly amazing ship.
The impossible knife of memory is laurie halse anderson at her finest. To ask other readers questions about the impossible knife of memory. Jan 07, 2014 the impossible knife of memory, although dark at times, also has plenty of moments of sardonic wit or outright humor, and it also has a sweet, realistic love story at its heart. Gracie is the girl who lives next door to the kincain family. About the author laurie halse anderson has received both the margaret edwards award and the alan award for her contributions to young adult literature.
Also, i think some of the knife rips can memories that arent necessarily good ones so i think that eventually hayley will get in a depressed mood because of her past. You could argue i was too young for it youd be wrong, but it left the kind of impression on me that never goes away. Along with seclusion, hayley is alienated and goes through thoughts of suicide during her despairing spells. Not only do memories haunt andy pertaining to the war, but. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The impossible knife of memory laurie halse anderson. Jan 23, 2014 the impossible knife of memory tackles those questions and more in a story that contemplates the impact that posttraumatic stress disorder has on the person that suffers it and on those closest to them. Dec 27, 20 the impossible knife of memory is laurie halse anderson at her finest. Ive had the pleasure of reading the advance readers copy of this book a few days ago and its just so wonderful. Shown in the following pages of 61, 115116, 182,236, and 301 this claim will be supported. The impossible knife of memory tackles those questions and more in a story that contemplates the impact that posttraumatic stress disorder has on the person that suffers it and on those closest to them.
Terms in this set 14 early in the book, a teacher asks the students to compare what two figures from history. In an impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson, the central ideas are that some memories just dont go away over time. Booktalking the impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson by miranda mcdermott, harry belafonte 115th street library february 26, 2014 17yearold high school senior hayley rose kincain struggles to cope with running the household and keep her severely depressed, drugaddicted and alcoholic father safe and alive. Entertainment weekly andy comes home from the war in iraq honored for his service, and haunted by it. The the impossible knife of memory community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. What happens to war veterans when they return to civilian life and how does their behaviour affect their families and the people who love them. Meettheauthor recording with laurie halse anderson about the impossible knife of memory. The ones that i think stand out the most to me are the importance of family, man struggles against himself, and perseverance. The impossible knife of memory by laurie halse anderson. He rushes to help her, skips physics class, and even offers to carry her books to the car. Knife what did hayley have to write in detention on the first page. Laurie halse anderson on speak, censorship, and the. Jan 11, 2014 healing the wounds of memorys impossible knife laurie halse andersons latest young adult novel, the impossible knife of memory, follows 15yearold hayley and her dad, who suffers from ptsd. The main theme of the novel is that addiction hurts family life.