Shout

by Laurie Halse Anderson

This poetry memoir by the author of Speak follows her from childhood through... read more

This poetry memoir by the author of Speak follows her from childhood through her adult life as a successful YA author. Part I introduces the reader to Anderson’s parents and family life in the 1970s. Raped at age 13, Anderson’s poems consider the culture of silence surrounding women and their bodies in addition to her experiences during that time. The traumatic event was followed by a downward spiral of drug and alcohol use before Anderson found solace in competitive swimming and, especially, a pivotal year as an exchange student in Denmark. In Part 2, the author reflects on her experience as a National Book Award finalist and her profound encounters with readers, many of them victims of sexual assault with whom Speak resonated. The memoir concludes with part 3, a meditation on Anderson’s name and forebears, and a recounting of her parents’ deaths. Anderson’s voice is personal and powerful, her poetry simultaneously informal and elegant in this singular addition to the body of literature exploring the strength and resilience of survivors of sexual assault. (Age 13 and older)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2020

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