Quick take
An inspiring, no-holds-barred memoir from the best-selling author of Speak.
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Feminist
Social issues
Famous author
Poetry
Synopsis
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.
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Shout
Introduction
Finding my courage to speak up twenty-five years after I was raped, writing Speak, and talking with countless survivors of sexual violence made me who I am today.
This book shows how that happened.
It’s filled with the accidents, serendipities, bloodlines, tidal waves, sunrises, disasters, pass¬port stamps, criminals, cafeterias, nightmares, fever dreams, readers, portents, and whispers that have shaped me so far.
My father wrote poetry, too. He gave me these guidelines: we must be gentle with the living, but the dead own their truth and are fearless. So I’ve written honestly about the challenges my parents faced and how their struggles affected me. The poems that reference people other than me or my family are truth told slant; I’ve muddled specific details to protect the identities of survivors.
This is the story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself a new one.
Why I love it
Etaf Rum
Author, A Woman Is No Man
“This is the story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself a new one.”
Growing up in an insular community, I often felt voiceless as a woman. Because I was afraid to speak up, I found myself resorting to books and stories to understand my place in the world. Whenever I witnessed injustices around me, I curled up inside of a book in an attempt to make sense of them. After years of being silenced, books helped me build the courage to share and tell these stories. This is the triumphant message in Laurie Halse Anderson’s powerful new memoir, Shout.
Written in free verse, Anderson’s deeply personal stories ferociously confront the issues of rape, sexual abuse, and how society treats those who find the courage to speak up. In the book’s first half, Anderson recounts the events in her life that led to the writing of her best-selling novel Speak. The second half, which she calls a manifesto, is her empowering reflection on rape culture and the ways in which sexual violence has become rampant.
Anderson’s language is raw, moving, empowering, and full of anger. It’s as if she is using her words not only to call out injustices, but also to rewrite the narrative of her life. I hope that people will read her book and feel less alone. I know I did.
Member ratings (421)
Emily E.
Raeford, NC
I really liked this book. I love prose style books like this. Parts of it were interesting and parts of it were a harder read, focusing on tops like rape, but I really how it made me think and reflect
Anne-Marie B.
Chicopee, MA
I already read this when I ordered a BOTM copy. It’s a real great extension of Laurie Halse Anderson’s work, showing hints of the stories to come and how her life effected them, especially Speak.
Kaiolena T.
Oceanside, CA
Anderson shares her magnificent story about sexual abuse, family issues, self discovery and love through poetry that will have you saying “damn.” Her writing is lively and truly masterful.
Kylee N.
Spring, TX
A one-of-a-kind book by a phenomenal woman written in a compelling voice begging mankind to SHOUT! Full of life, words for the spirit, and a resounding voice. One of my favorites forever.
Amber V.
Lubbock, TX
LHAs novels are cumbersome. I remember reading speak at a young age and it affected me so much. After my own experience with s.a. Shout was hard but it also helped with my healing process.