Summary Of The Impossible Knife Of Memory By Laurie Halse Anderson

Laurie Halse Anderson illuminates a dark but utterly realistic world throughout her novels. Anderson shares common ideas of adolescents being the victims of the world; who each overcomes traumatic events. All three novels are written in first person perspective, and shares a common theme of survival. Anderson’s marvelous writing style attracts the readers and cages them into the book, leaving her audience to feel sympathy, creating familiarity, as well as developing personal connections to the protagonists. Throughout the novels, Wintergirls, Speak, and The Impossible Knife of Memory, Anderson demonstrate the emotional struggle of teenagers, who conquer their battles from their own experiences as adolescents. Furthermore, Anderson’s incorporation

Similarly, Melinda also symbolizes the victims of the world who were raped or sexually assaulted. In speak, a high school freshman, Melinda, is raped at the end of the summer party and informs the police about it. Everyone, even her best friends hate her for busting the party. Melinda is stuck between telling the truth to people who she cares about or to remain silent. Melinda deals with the emotional, physiological, and physical effects of rape. She is forced to live in fear, who cannot seem to voice out the truth. Around the world, many people are raped or sexually assaulted. For example, in America, 1 out of 6 women are victims of an attempt or complete rape, in men 1 out of 33 face the same attacks. It has been said that victims of sexual assault are 3 times more likely to suffer from depression, 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Anderson has also been a victim of sexual assault; which is where she got her inspiration to base part of her life to create Melinda who symbolizes the people who suffer from rape (Rose). Anderson uses Melinda to portray the readers that raped and/or sexually assaulted victims are effected both mentally and

For example, in Speak, Melinda says “It's easier not to say anything. Shut your trap, button your lip, can it. All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say” (Anderson 9). This allows the readers to feel sympathy for Melinda, as well as understanding and sharing the pain Melinda feels. Also, in The Impossible Knife of Memory, Hayley gives inspiration to the readers by saying, “Yes it is, because you can only be brave if you're scared” (Anderson 390). Again, this allows the reader to connect with Hayley’s feelings and walk through the story as if it was their own; in addition, fulfilling the appetencies one seeks for from the novel. Throughout Wintergirls, Anderson uses a strikethrough technique to develop an unreliable protagonist. Lia, from Wintergirls does not allow herself to acknowledge what she is feeling; thus, allowing the readers to see more than what Lia sees in herself. For instance, in Wintergirls, Lia thinks: “one bite, please, and then another and another, crust and cheese sausage sauce another and another empty is strong and invincible. ‘I already ate.’” (Anderson 121). Readers who have suffered through anorexia, or even something as simple as a diet,