SHOUT by Laurie Halse Anderson

When I finished reading Laurie Halse Anderson's upcoming novel, SHOUT, I had so many things I wanted to say about it, but I didn't know how to say it.  I still don't.  This poetic memoir has left me speechless in the best way possible. 

I first came to know Laurie's work through Twisted, an incredible novel that I have been using in my classroom for many years now.  It is a book that connects with all of my students.  But Laurie is most well known for her groundbreaking novel Speak.  20 years later, Speak is still resonating with people all over the world.  But when Anderson realized that not much has changed in how the world views the topics of rape, sexual assault, consent, etc., she decided to speak up again, but this time she decided to SHOUT!

This novel, told in her free verse, is Anderson's telling of the trials, tribulations, and pains she grew up with, culminating in her own rape before she ever reached high school.  Her story is raw emotion.  It is painfully beautiful in the words she shares with us.  This is her story, but it is also the story of so many unfortunate people who have suffered the same as her, but have always been afraid to sound their voice.  This is Anderson's call to action.  We can no longer continue to be silent.  We mush shout along side Laurie for all of those afraid that their voice won't be heard. 

SHOUT is another title I was fortunate enough to get an ARC of.  It won't be released until March 12, so if you want to read this incredible story, let me know!

From Amazon:

A searing poetic memoir and call to action from the bestselling and award-winning author of Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson!

Bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes about, and advocates for, survivors of sexual assault. Now, inspired by her fans and enraged by how little in our culture has changed since her groundbreaking novel Speak was first published twenty years ago, she has written a poetry memoir that is as vulnerable as it is rallying, as timely as it is timeless. In free verse, Anderson shares reflections, rants, and calls to action woven between deeply personal stories from her life that she's never written about before. Searing and soul-searching, this important memoir is a denouncement of our society's failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #MeToo and #TimesUp, whether aloud, online, or only in their own hearts. Shout speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice-- and once you hear it, it is impossible to ignore.