I added Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson to my TBR because I saw it on either her Twitter or her Instagram. Simple enough reason.

Anderson has been on my list of YA authors to watch since I read Speak early in my teaching career. Melinda, the protagonist from Speak, spoke to me. And in turn, I did a fair amount of hollering whenever anyone tried to silence her.

Stories written by Laurie Halse Anderson are ones I recommended to my students over and over again. Twisted was one of their favorites.

So I say all that to say that when I found out about Shout, Laurie Halse Anderson’s memoir-in-verse, I immediately put it on hold at the library (come to find I had to wait [impatiently] in line).

I’ve heard her speak a few times and have enjoyed the timber of her voice. I was pleased to find out that she read the poems. Really, it sounded like she was talking to me and I thought that was pretty cool.