Monday, February 3, 2014

The Impossible Knife of Memory

Anderson, Laurie Halse. The Impossible Knife of Memory. 8 CDs. unabridged. 9hrs 13 mins. Brilliance Audio. 2014. ISBN 9781480553606. $59.97. 

Bestselling young adult author and Printz Award nominee, Laurie Halls Anderson (Speak, Fever 1793, Twisted) brings to the table another unforgettable novel that will have teenagers and adults alike clamoring for more. Seventeen year old Hayley Kincain has more on her plate than most of her fellow high school students. She and her father have spent a lifetime trying to outrun their memories, but now that they've settled in their father's hometown, the memories catch back up to both of them and threaten to swallow them whole. For Hayley, memories of abandonment, her mother and grandmother's death, and her stepmother's lack of commitment start to surface, first as ripples, than as waves. For her father, a veteran of the Iraq War, the horrors he saw in the war, won't stay hidden. He tries to numb the memories with drugs and alcohol, and his daughter is left picking up the pieces. And as if Hayley's life weren't anymore complicated, a sweet young man who just wants to see her laugh and smile comes barging into her life. For once, Hayley finds herself thinking about the future, but how can she do that when her past is hidden and she has to take care of her father? Narrated beautifully by TV and voice actress, Julia Whelan, whose youthful voice does wonders in bringing Hayley's own voice to light. Also, co-narrated by Luke Daniels whose gruff and melancholy voice is the perfect portrayal of Hayley's father. Engaging, heartfelt, and compelling - another must read from one of YA's best authors. For fans of young adult literature and coming of age novels. Erin Cataldi, Johnson County Public Library, Franklin, IN

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