Historical Fiction
"Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country." - (Goodreads)
"Cassie and Lia are best friends and have been since elementary school. As they grow up, they both develop serious eating disorders and eventually become competitive over who can get the thinnest. Their diseases spiral out of control, causing their friendship to end badly with Cassie judging Lia harshly. One night, months later, Lia receives thirty-three phone calls from Cassie— but she doesn't answer because of lingering resentment. The next day, Lia learns that Cassie was found dead in a motel room. From there, the story outlines Lia's emotional battle with guilt and how she attempts to deal with it. Anderson's unique use of language gives the reader an insight into Lia's thoughts and feelings; her torment is demonstrated through cross-outs, italics, and blank spaces. The first-person narrative allows the reader to identify personally with Lia, which is appropriate for a young adult audience and helpful in understanding her character. The dangers and severity of eating disorders are portrayed in a dark yet enlightening way. Overall, this book is a moving account of a teenager's life and struggle to find herself after losing a friend." - (Julia Oltmann)
"For the past five years, Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.
Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down." - (Barnes&Noble)
"High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background—average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn’t believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just so happens to be his father’s boss’s daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy—and Tyler’s secret crush. And that sets off a string of events and changes that have Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world.
In Twisted, the acclaimed Laurie Halse Anderson tackles a very controversial subject: what it means to be a man today. Fans and new readers alike will be captured by Tyler’s pitch perfect, funny voice, the surprising narrative arc, and the thoughtful moral dilemmas that are at the heart of all of the author’s award-winning, widely read work." - (Goodreads)