Shout! By Laurie Halse Anderson
Reviewed by: Katie Smith, Reference Specialist
Genre: Autobiography/Memoir, Poetry
Suggested Age: Teens and Adults
What is this Book About? “This is a story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself a new one.” – SHOUT
Twenty years after writing Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson is back with a voice that is louder, stronger, and still frighteningly relevant. Written as a memoir-in-verse, SHOUT builds upon the groundwork of Speak and delves into the author’s real-life, traumatic encounters and personal struggles – such as her own rape at the age of thirteen, her father’s struggle with PTSD and resulting spousal abuse, turbulent home life, body shaming, living with depression, drug abuse, and societal misconceptions with consent and sexual assault – all with unflinching honesty. It is as vulnerable as it is rallying, and in the wake of #MeToo, her accounts (and call-to-action) are immeasurably important and timely. Anderson knows, after twenty years of talking with survivors and sharing in their pain, that her writing has the potential to unify, heal, and educate. As a survivor herself, she is unafraid to give advice to those who need it most and – for the sake of current and future generations – holds nothing back:
“Too many grown-ups tell kids to follow their dreams / like that’s going to get them somewhere / Auntie Laurie says follow your nightmares instead / cuz when you figure out what’s eating you / you can slay it.” – SHOUT
My Review: The audiobook of SHOUT is personally narrated by Laurie Halse Anderson, and listening to her voice shook me to the core – largely because her memoir is equal parts stunning beauty, horror, and undeniable rage. It’s raw, and exactly what #MeToo needs right now – a shout, rather than a whisper. What I valued most about SHOUT is that nothing is softened or held back. The trauma is laid bare for all to see and you’re faced with the awful, haunting reality – that sexual assault, depression, and trauma are real for many teens. She doesn’t sugar coat the truth or talk down to her audience, and for her readers this is incredibly empowering and helpful. VERDICT: An essential read for teens and adults – one that pulls no punches, is sometimes unbearably hard to read, and will most likely be one of the most influential books to come out during the #MeToo movement.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Painful, Controversial, Important
Give it a Try if You Like: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton, and Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
