Families who loved The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Parents should reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to understand a parent's mental health crisis or the lingering shadows of trauma within the home. The story follows seventeen year old Hayley Kincaid as she attempts to navigate a normal high school experience while acting as the primary caregiver for her father, a veteran battling severe PTSD. It is a raw and unflinching look at the role reversal that often happens in families dealing with illness. This is an essential choice for mature teens who need to see their own resilience reflected back at them, or for families looking to open a dialogue about the complexities of post-war life and the importance of seeking professional help rather than suffering in silence. Due to themes of substance use and trauma, it is best suited for high schoolers.
