The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, realistic fiction. ~~Alyssa Woodruff

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, realistic fiction. ~~Alyssa Woodruff

Hayley Kincaid doesn't have the strongest family relationship. Her dad is a drunk who is on and off about being a father. Sometimes her father is clean of drugs, sober, and caring. Other times, he is so drunk that he can't even walk. They are struggling with finances. Hayley's father almost never shows up to work; explaining why the small family can never find a home to stay for a long period of time. And she is being "haunted" by the thought of her father's ex-girlfriend coming back into her life. Hayley was home schooled up until her senior year; she started to attend public school. Now she can get the real feel to have friends. Gracie and Finnegan Ramos are her two best friends. It is safe to say that Hayley is shy and quiet. Although she is shy, she has an outgoing personality.

1. ) If you could ask the author one question…?

If i could ask the author, Laurie Halse Anderson, one question, then I would ask her why she chooses these type of stories;stories with characters that are struggling with their lives. I have read a few other books that she had written. The award winning book, Speak, is about a high school girl that is left out and bullied. I have also read the book Twisted. Twisted is about a high school boy that made one bad choice that has changed his life. All three of these books have something in common. They are all about the different struggles that high school students go through. These stories may not apply to everyone, but they,in my opinion, are important to hear. If I were to ask this question, I would be curious to as what I would hear.Does the author have kids that go home and tell her stories? Or did she live through the different events?

2.) Where is the setting... how would it impact...?

Bullying is a huge problem in the 21st century. Suicide is the second leading cause in the United States for people 10-24 years old. Bullying has been a huge topic for the past few years. This book, in particular, isn't about bullying but is about struggles and drugs. Drugs have also been a major problem for many years. More and more students in high school are either using or surrounded by drugs. If the setting was changed, for example to the 19th century, then the story would be majorly impacted. There were not as many resources to bully something back then as there is today. Today, there is so many technology resources that can encourage cyber-bullying. Back in the 19th century, there was not technology with Facebook or Instagram.