The Impossible Knife of Memory
Laurie Halse Anderson
About this book
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.
Censorship history
The Impossible Knife of Memory was banned or restricted in United States in 2025 for depictions of violence, as well as drugs / substance use and immorality. This reflects the recurring tension between protecting readers from disturbing content and suppressing honest accounts of human experience.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | ViolenceDrugsMoral |