More than 20 years afterthe success of her groundbreaking YA novelSpeak,Laurie Halse Andersonis raising her voice withSHOUT.
The cover needed to shout.
It needed to be a strong statement of meaning that the days of shame are over.
Credit: Randy Fontanilla; Viking Books for Young Readers
Its time for us to shout together and change this.
Plus, check out the first look atSHOUTs statement-making new paperback cover.
Because he had been abused by a priest for a long time when he was a boy.
Penguin
And he said, Finally, we can talk about this.
I didnt think Id live long enough to see it.
Its making victims feel safer and empowered.
Its beginning some long overdue conversations about what is consent, what is healthy sexuality.
I got angrier and angrier as I was walking in New York City listening to this podcast.
Lines of poetry started to drift in my head.
By the end of that walk I knew that I wanted to write this book.
I was just thrilled a couple people read it.
Ive been baffled every day since then!
Its healing to talk about this and its strengthening.
There is no shame in having that hurt any more than theres shame about having their house robbed.
AndSpeakwas mainly for teens and young people;SHOUTis a crossover book for both young people and adults.
Older people need to learn how to be able to talk about this.
The paperback version ofSHOUTwill beavailable here March 10.
