Reading Metrics
Description
The book follows Hayley Kincaid and her father Andy, a veteran struggling with PTSD from the Iraq War, as they return to his hometown after years of constantly moving so Hayley can attend school and attempt to build a normal life. Hayley tries to navigate high school relationships, including her growing connection with a boy named Finn who has his own secrets, while her father's traumatic memories continue to threaten their fragile stability. The story explores themes of war trauma, family dysfunction, and the challenges of healing.
Quick Summary
Laurie Halse Anderson brings her signature raw honesty to this story about a teenage girl navigating life with a father struggling from war trauma, capturing the messy, unpredictable reality of their daily battles with striking authenticity. The sharp humor cuts through intense moments, the slow-burn mystery of what really happened to Hayley's mom keeps readers turning pages, and the electric father-daughter relationship swings from laugh-out-loud funny to gut-wrenchingly sad. If your kid loved "Speak" or "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," they will devour this unflinching and powerful story. Perfect for teens in grades 9 through 12 who want a book that never looks away from hard truths.