A Touching, Realistic, and Perilous Portrait

Source: Author Website

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson (Viking, 2014, 400pp.)

After years spent on the road outrunning bad memories, blue-haired teen Hayley Kincaid and her troubled, army veteran father return to their hometown in New York. Having been home-schooled for the last five years, Hayley cautiously re-enters the world of traditional learning, a repulsive realm populated by high school “zombies” (the in-crowd) and a few rebellious “freaks” like herself. Although she impresses few at first with her snarky attitude, she slowly becomes accustomed to her new life, and even gathers a handful of friends (other “freaks” like herself). In the back of her mind, though, is a fear that no teen should have to worry about: the constant, sickening fear for her father's declining mental health. While the prose lacks the gritty, lyrical beauty found in Anderson's previous novel, Wintergirls, this newest offering succeeds in painting a touching, realistic, and perilous portrait of a new era of social issues. Recommended for Ages 15-Up.

Girls On Ice

Source: Author Website

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2009, 288pp.)

After her best friend’s bulimia leads to a lonesome death in a sketchy motel room, Lia, who is anorexic, finds herself stuck in a state of emotional limbo. Her struggles with self-image, hunger, and guilt over her friend’s death provide for a fascinating (if sometimes graphic) read. Halse’s use of first person narration is highly effective, and her honest, empathetic treatment of Lia’s plight manages to serve as a warning against eating disorders without being heavy-handed. This visceral yet poignant tale should be required reading for all high school girls. Recommended for Ages 16-Up.