The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson Response

Everyday, there is always a possibility that one thing can change someone's mood, feelings or actions. One event can change if a person becomes vulnerable or courageous. One event can change the course of someone's day. However, not only can events change a person's point of view but people can too. Whether it be a loss or gaining a friend, another person can change someone's behavior. A person can make someone else's day or ruin it. Changing one person's behavior can effect the people around them as well. 

In The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, readers will see how one person coming back can leave effects on people that they haven't even met yet. The main character, Hayley lives with her father that has PTSD. They came back from living on the road to try to have a "normal" life. Then, Hayley's step-mom Trish came back after she left many years before. Trish coming back has made a huge change in Hayley's behavior in more negative ways than positive ones. Her new behavior is affecting her relationships with her friends, boyfriend and her academic life. However, when her dad goes to the hospital and almost getting arrested, Hayley realizes that what she is doing is not helping her or her father in any way. She realizes that she needs help from the one person she doesn't want in her life. It shows how one person can change the point of view and behavior of another.

Hayley has been taking care of her father ever since Trish left. On the road, he would have drunken outbursts and Hayley would be the one to pick up the pieces. When her father was still in the Army, Trish treated Hayley as if she was her real daughter. She went with her to the library and protected her from her violent father when he came back. When Trish came back on Halloween many years later, she announced that she would be staying with her and her father for a while. Hayley couldn't of been more furious with her. She began to take her anger out on her friends and especially her boyfriend, Finn. Later in the story, Hayley has a flashback to the times when Trish was taking care of her. The text states, "...running from the beast daddy who roared and threw bolts of lightning, her holding me tight..." When Hayley flashes back to these times, it might infuriate her even more about the fact that she left her alone with her violent father when she was still so young but it also can lead to Hayley realizing that Trish wasn't a bad person all the time and at one point in her life, she protected her. Then, after a couple weeks of Trish living with Hayley and her father, she leaves them. She and Andy, Hayley's father had a fight on the help that he might need. After Trish left, Hayley was ecstatic. She could finally go back to her old life. She becomes a more lighthearted person and more calm around her friends. However, her relationship had already ended. I think that with Trish leaving again and Hayley having to take care of her father, she might realize that she needs help. She might realize that she can't take care of him anymore. She might realize that she is losing people she cares about and she needs help and she can't care for him by herself. Although Trish left and Hayley is extremely happy, she might have to put her past with Trish behind and focus mainly on trying to help her father.

When Andy is at an all time low, Hayley calls Trish for help. Andy goes to the hospital with Trish and Hayley realizes the amount of help her father needs. With nothing to do, she goes to mend her relationship with Finn. Andy comes back from the hospital healthy and better than he has been in years. His behavior changes, he drinks less and has a better grasp on his life. Hayley's thoughts towards Trish are completely changed and now she tolerates her. However, after everyone thought Andy was doing great, he tries to commit suicide. Hayley stops him right before he jumps of the quarry and save him but not without leaving injuries to both her and her father. After this event, Hayley's behavior towards her future is now changed. She now has a goal set in mind and a more stable life than she had before. 

Trish coming back changed Hayley's behavior and that also effected her relationships with the people she cares about. At first, she only had hate and anger inside her that she took out on innocent people. Trish had played a huge role in Hayley's childhood and leaving her changed her whole point of view on the person she thought she was. Many people know of a person that can change their feelings and behavior. Whether it be a parent, friend, adult, or pet, many things can change how a person feels. Someone leaving and then coming back had changed Hayley for the worst. She despised Trish and hated her for what she had done. Hayley's behavior had went down the whole time Trish was with them. However, sometimes that person has changed and is not the person you remembered and your opinions in that person can change.