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READING STYLE GUIDE

Chispita: Tiny Spark

7/26/2019

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Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya

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Emilia Rosa is juggling a plethora of problems. Let's start with family. Dad, a Marine who was deployed during most of of her childhood, returns home. He seems to be a different person from the father she remembers. Mami, who keeps Emilia focused and organized, will be away on an extended business trip. Abuela, her maternal grandmother has definite notions about Emilia’s life, including the need for a quinceañera. This is something she emphatically does not want.
Sixth grade is a struggle. Not because she isn't intelligent, but because she processes stimuli in a different way. She needs time and individual attention in order to complete her homework. Some school assignments are difficult to untangle without guidance from her mother.The noises associated with school rallies in the gym are a horrific assault on her senses.
Friendships are complicated. Her relationship with a childhood friend seems to be changing. Emilia feels uncomfortable with how her friend speaks to her. She feels pressure to be part of activities where she feels uneasy.
That's not all. The community is in an uproar over possible changes in school boundaries. Will it have a positive or an adverse effect on the social and cultural integrity of the neighborhoods impacted by the proposed realignment?
There's lots going on here. Adjusting to change at home. Understanding the noticeable differences in her father’s behavior. Standing up to unreasonable requests from family and friends. Learning to weld and helping her father restore a vintage car. Becoming a participant in community politics.
Emilia discovers the value of looking at both sides of an issue, researching to uncover key information, and actively participating in the community. Current issues such as immigration, redistricting, and neighborhood identity take on added significance. ​She discovers that there are no easy answers.
Spanish is an integral part of Each Tiny Spark. Cartaya liberally sprinkles the narrative with Spanish phrases and Cuban culture. Non-Spanish readers will be able to grasp meaning by using contextual clues.
Author's Note includes resources on the following topics: Code of Ethics, News Services, Immigrant Rights, Neurodiversity, Veterans Support Services. There's a nice shoutout to libraries, librarians, and original research. ​​
Three cheers for the diminutive red head who loves to figure out puzzles and solve complex computer problems. She knows what’s under the hood of a Shelby Mustang and is a natural with a welding gun. She's a Chispita!

More stories from Pablo Cartaya

Be sure to check out these middle grade novels featuring latino characters. Cover images link to book trailers.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: August 6, 2019  Publisher: Kokila  ISBN: 978-0451479723​
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Lift Every Voice

7/24/2019

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Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing" Inspired Generations
​by Kelly Starling Lyons ill by Keith Mallett

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us.
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.
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It is a common occurrence for me to cry when I finish reading a book, it is uncommon for my heart to swell and tears begin to spill down my cheeks from the very first page. Sing a Song: "How Lift Every Voice and Sing" Inspired Generations had me instantly reaching for tissues.
Kelly Starling Lyons has penned a soul-stirring recital of the Black National Anthem's story. Inspired by her family's history, she traces the song through five generations. Beginning with a birthday celebration of Abraham Lincoln, the anthem is an integral part of the family. The music journeys with the family through the Great Migration, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement and culminates with opening of the National Museum of African American History.
​And you know what? That song is part of you.
The narrative voice is warm and personal, with the storyteller speaking directly to the reader. "Before you were born, a girl learned a song." The narrator invites the reader to interact with the story, interjecting "And you know what?" at several points in the telling.
​An Author's Note provides helpful background information.
Back straight, head high, heart and mouth open
Keith Mallett exquisitely captures the hope and resolve of individuals as they sing. A master of his craft, the images of these portraits of faith, determination, and joy are indelibly imprinted on my heart.
Both Sing a Song and  Going Down Home With Daddy, create a deep personal bond with readers. These are stories which nourish the soul.

Sing Along

Be inspired by these recordings of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" from Melba Moore, the Aeolians of Oakwood University, and the dedication of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Looking for More Inspiration? Try these books

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Copy provided by publisher
​Pub date: August 6, 2019  Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books  ISBN: 978-0525516095
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Undefeated

7/3/2019

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The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander ill by Kadir Nelson

This is for you. And you. And you. This is for us.
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When times are tough and faith gives only the thinnest glimmer of light, there is hope, there are heroes. Newbery Award-winner Kwame Alexander's poetry pays tribute to Black Americans who with determination, persistence, dignity, courage, and vision have survived and thrived.
The Undefeated honors some of the individuals, past and present, who embody the struggle to dream and achieve. Authors, artists, athletes, poets, politicians, Civil Rights leaders, and musicians are among those referenced through soaring verses which capture the dignity and grace of the human spirit. 
​Alexander also pays tribute to those who suffered, sacrificed, and lost their lives.
A heart-breaking image features the framed photographs of four young girls killed in the 1963 bombing of the Birmingham Church, their faces shown behind shattered glass. Lives shattered. ​
Probably the most moving spread is a blank page, devoid of any face, acknowledging those who did not survive. ​
Two-time Caldecott Honor-winner Nelson's close-up portraits capture a spirit of quiet strength and determination.  The realistic style exudes countenances glowing with warmth and intelligence. Nelson uses a rich variety of skin tones and facial characteristics. Each an individual. Each unique.  The faces also portray joyful and proud moments. Eyes shining with tears. 
Back matter includes an Afterword by the author, describing his inspiration for this ode to Black America. References to  individuals, historical events, lyrics, and speeches that inspired individual verses provide context and background information. 
This book is for everyone. It speaks to the best in us. It inspires us all. Thank you, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Nelson
"We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated."
​Maya Angelou

Be Inspired

View The Undefeated trailer and an interview with the author and illustrator, filmed at the National Gallery of Art.
Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 2, 2019  Publisher: Versify.   ISBN: 978-1328780966
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It’s Cake Time

6/18/2019

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Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

If cakes truly are magic, where did I go wrong?
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Jingwen, his younger brother Yanghao, and mother venture into the unknown, immigrating to Australia,  Mom works the night shift at a local bakery and Jingwen cares for his outgoing, impulsive younger sibling while she is away.
​It's hard. School is strange. He doesn’t understand what people are saying. Kids at school ignore him.  It’s like moving to Mars.
Relocation is exponentially difficult because his father is not with the family. Dad was killed in a car accident fourteen days before Jingwen’s birthday. This ten-year-old carries a heavy pocketful of resentment, guilt, and loneliness.
Jingwen decides that he will make all the cakes on his father’s list of dream cakes. He hopes recreation of all his father's desserts will bring ease his pain and "make everything better." This task requires money, numerous trips to the grocery store, purchasing ingredients with labels he cannot read, late nights of secretly baking and then consuming all the cake. To make all these confections without his mother's knowledge means some serious subterfuge as well as outright lies.
Lai ingeniously blends text and images. Both are essential essential story elements. Panels capture heart-wrenching moments as well as comical scenes. ​Encountering an unfamiliar culture and foreign language is brilliantly illustrated. A boy stands alone while those around him talk in words that resemble bizarre symbols couched inside speech balloons. At times some characters’ faces transform into monsters, revealing interior panic and fear.
Anyone with a sibling will relate to episodes where the brothers fight, appeal to mom to take sides, are jealous of the other. Like most relationships, there are moments when the boys plot and plan together and even forgive. It's easy to relate to these boys.
​There is a bonus: a recipe for Rainbow Cake can be found at the back of the book. This dessert is much more than a box cake mix. We're talking 14 eggs, separated and prepared individually before combining in a final step. It gave me added respect for Jingwen's ambitious plan to secretly create all the cakes. That's quite a feat.
And the cakes. O my, such cakes! Huge slices of almond chiffon cake with caramel sauce, chocolate raspberry torte, and pear tarte tatin with absolutely no tummy ache are the stuff dreams are made of. But it’s not all sweetness. Pie in the Sky tackles difficult subjects: immigration, grief, sibling rivalry, and language barriers as seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old. While pastry creation and relocating to Australia may be unfamiliar to readers, the emotions are universal. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll definitely want a slice of cake.

Strange Territory

More books where images forming an integral part of the stories of kids coping with strange new environments
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: May 14, 2019  Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)  ISBN: 978-1250314093
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We Are the Change

5/4/2019

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We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders
introduction by Harry Belefonte

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Have you picked up a book and without cracking it open, knew that it was going to be something extraordinary? That was my initial response to We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders.
​The case features embossed lettering  and Dan Santat's illustration of a John Lewis quote.
We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us.
Sixteen remarkable artists lend their talents to this project. Each illustrator selected a  a Civil Rights leader's inspirational words. Art is reflective of the message and unique to the artist's style.  Each illustrator's personal consideration of the quotation is included.  Images and text are compelling and profoundly moving. 
The volume, inspired by the work of the American Civil Liberties Union, echoes a commitment to human rights. Harry Belafonte offers a thoughtful introduction.
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A diverse collection of historical individuals such as Queen Lili'uokalani, Frederick Douglass, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Helen Keller as well as contemporary figures in the struggle for human rights including Dolores Huerta, John Lewis, and Sonia Sotomayor provide the words.
This treasure trove of art by Selina Alko, Alina Chau, Lisa Congdon, Emily Hughes, Molly Idle, Juana Median, Innosanto Nagara, Christopher Silas Neal, John Parra, Brian Pinkney, Greg Pizzoli, Sean Qualls, Dan Santat, Shadra Strickland, Melissa Sweet, and Raul the Third is striking. Back matter consists of individual biographies of the contributing illustrators.
A personal, passionate call to action that will resonate with readers of all ages. 

Companion Resources

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Anthology of poetry, essays, and art reflects and honors the ongoing struggle for justice, equality, and respect.
Barack Obama and "We are the change"
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Looking for opportunities to be involved in meaningful change? Try this site.
Copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: May 7, 2019  Publisher: Chronicle Books  ISBN:  978-1452170398
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Finding Answers

4/2/2019

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Forward Me Back to You by Mitali Perkins

Sometimes you have to go back to the past to move forward to the future.
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Kat, skilled in the art of Brazilian jujitsu, is brutally assaulted in her school’s stairwell by a popular member of the basketball team. She escapes, but the incident has scarred her, leaving her wary of men and emotionally shattered. When she reports the assault, her attacker pleads a convincing defense, denying her accusation. School becomes unbearable due to the constant presence of her assailant as well as the questioning looks and snide remarks from fellow students. A family friend arranges for her to leave her California home and live with an understanding friend in Boston.
Robin, the adopted son of wealthy, well-connected Boston parents, is completing his high school senior year. His father plans his life trajectory beginning with a college education. Robin feels unsure and unsettled, with questions regarding his birth and subsequent adoption.
Guess everyone has a backstory.
​They make us real, even if they make us cry.
Kat and Robin meet at a Boston church youth group. They are invited to spend the summer in Kolkata. working with an organization that fights human trafficking and rescues young children. Both teens have their own reasons for deciding to go to Kolkata. ​Through alternating voices, Kat and Robin share their hopes for this summer of service in India.
How much of himself would remain if he could press REWIND and start life again?
Robin was born in Kolkata and longs to meet his birth mother and understand his history. Kat is struggling to overcome a traumatic assault. She reasons that teaching young girls to defend themselves will help heal her anguish and calm her fears. Interestingly, neither accomplishes his/her stated purpose for traveling to Kolkata. However, each finds the summer in India to be a turning point in their lives.
Perkins builds the story to a heart-pounding, potentially terrifying climax that will keep readers swiftly turning pages. The conclusion is open-ended, bittersweet yet satisfying.
This search for identity and recovery is a sweeping saga that explores the serious problem of international human trafficking. Gripping storytelling, eye-opening adventure in a faraway city, Forward Me Back to You packs an emotional gut punch that lingers long after the final page. A story not to be missed.

Piece of Cake

​When people I love are out of reach, I offer some kindness to another that I can’t give my dear ones. It brings peace to me.
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There is a lovely scene where the Asha House residents surprise one of the volunteers with a birthday cake. In turn, each girl feeds the honoree a piece of cake, while telling her something they admire about her. I like this tradition and will continue it by sharing some virtual bites of cake with Ms. Perkins.
  • Superheroes.There are numerous references to superheroes. Both Robin and Kat are superhero movie afficianados and often reference specific heroes. Kat describes Robin's quest as “Kal-El's search for the planet Krypton." Both Robin and Kat develop qualities (superpowers) that they never would have dreamed possible.
​Too many villains. Not enough heroes. The real world’s nothing like the movies.
  • Animal names. Kat works at the local zoo and is conversant in animal taxinomany. She secretly refers to individuals by a specific animal species. The dignified Mrs. Vee is Ibis. Host of the home where she initially stays is Hyena man. Robin is Bird Boy. Her attacker is a wolf.
  • Kolkata. Perkins paints vivid pictures of life in this fascinating city, from the grandeur of Victoria Memorial and the noble work at Mother House to the seamy underbelly of the city where innocent young girls are captured and exploited. Urban sights and sounds are everywhere: rickshaws, drenching rain showers, and cardamom-spiced chai.

A Personal Perspective

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​“People who are adoptive parents know that they aren’t a hero or a villain. They are just a parent.”
Mitali Perkins, mother of adopted twin brothers, shares her perspective on adoption and the adoption triad: birth mother, child, and adoptive parents. Read her Huffpost opinion piece and her recent interview with Lakshmi Gandhi in an NBC news report.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 2, 2019  Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)  ISBN:  978-1426333040
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Left is Right

3/8/2019

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In Russia, doing the right thing meant being like everyone else. And everyone else was right-handed.

Anya’s Secret Society by Yevgenia Nayberg

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Anya was born with a dominant left hand. She was also born into a Russian culture that considered the right hand as the "legitimate" hand. Even the word "right" meant not only a direction, but also "correct." 
When this resourceful and determined little girl recognized that local norms frowned upon use of the left hand, she taught herself to use her right hand for most activities. Anya was able to master even difficult tasks with this hand.
However, there was one activity in which it was impossible to use her right hand: drawing. Her brain could only process and create images with her dominant hand, her left hand.
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Anya created a special stratagem to live within the confines of Russian expectations and still express herself: a secret society. She learned that great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelango, and Rembrandt were left-handed. When she was alone, she would put on a mask and pretend to be in the company of famous left-handed artists. The secret society was the place where she felt that she could safely create.
Then life took a surprising turn. Her parents chose to leave Russia and immigrate to America. In addition to all the differences she encountered in this new country, Anya was astonished to learn that left-hand dominance was not considered wrong. Schools were equipped with scissors and desks to accommodate children with either dominant hand. Her teacher did not seem to notice or care which hand Anya chose to use.
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Based on her personal experience growing up in the Soviet Union, Yevgenia Nayberg has created a poignant story. With determination, imaginative thinking, and a bit of subterfuge, Anya finds a way to continue to draw. Readers get a glimpse into the private life as well as the real world struggles an artist faces. 
I will always have a place in my heart for the secret society of my childhood.

Art: A Visual Treat

Nayberg's art is stunning. Her work is replete with arresting design and unconventional juxtaposition of objects. The use of light is extraordinary. Textures add nuance and dimension. She uses vibrant colors to emphasize Anya's fertile imagination. Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva and The Wren and the Sparrow received Sydney Taylor Honor Awards. View her online portfolio that includes illustration, theater posters, sketchbooks and more.
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Anya’s Secret Society is more than a gorgeously illustrated story, it’s an affirmation for all children who feel different, who don’t fit into the prevailing cultural definitions of correct.
​While the story is specific to left-handedness, the message that basic traits in individual children are neither “right” nor “wrong” is powerful.
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Electronic copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 12, 2019  Publisher: Charlesbridge  ISBN: 978-1580898300
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Love in a Time of War

3/4/2019

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Lovely War by Julie Berry

Firelight plays across Aphrodite's face. "Do you want to see what real love looks like?"
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Berry spins a fantastic tale of love and life, war and death. The story centers on a setup involving three Greek gods: Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus.
A trap is sprung. Aphrodite and Ares are caught. There will be a trial, with Hephaestus serving as judge and jury.
Aphrodite pleads her case by telling two love stories set during World War I. ​James, an aspiring architect and Hazel, a talented young pianist meet in England and fall in love before he leaves for the front. Colette, a Belgian girl with the voice of an angel and Aubrey, an African American composer and performer meet in France where both are entertaining troops stationed in Europe.
​Apollo and Hades offer corroborating "testimony" and contribute important details. Interestingly, Hades relates his narrative from the perspective of those who experience death, both in the moments preceding death as well as the life after death.
"I just hope that the war doesn't...change him, you know?"
"It's unavoidable that the war will change him."
Berry does not shy away from graphic descriptions of murder, racism, cruelty, and war-related injuries. Life for her characters is not simple nor is it always just.
Reading this novel and especially the book's final chapters will require either a large box of tissues or, if you want to stay true to the time period, a few dozen handkerchiefs.
Occasionally I encounter a book that I call a masterpiece. Lovely War is one such book. The writing is sublime, filled with tenderness and hauntingly exquisite imagery. There are battle scenes so real that I could taste the acrid smell of gunfire from deep in the trenches. A kiss delayed before finally being realized is as sweet as the ripest peach, waiting until the exact moment of perfection before it is plucked from the tree and savored in all its deliciousness. Juxtapositioning the agonizing story of a soldier's tragic death against a young toddler building and demolishing block towers is sheer brilliance. ​Berry relieves the tension with clever asides and sly humor.
This YA novel comes in at a substantial 500 pages, including a Historical Note, Selected Bibliography, and Acknowledgements. That's big enough to be a doorstop and may be a bit daunting for some teen readers. But don't let size deter you. Every chapter, every single word is pure gold.
Note: When I first picked up this historical novel and began to read, I was puzzled by the cover. After l finished reading, I understood its significance. You’ll get no spoilers from me. But after you read the book, let’s discuss!

Want More? Try These

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Elizabeth Wein's World War II series is classic. Code Name Verity earned a Prinz Honor Award.
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Martha Brockenbrough's story of love and death involving two gods and two mortals.
Characters James Reese Europe and Noble Sissle are real individuals. Listen to this recording of their Ragtime music from the World War I era. 
​The period photographs and other images of music and African American musicians add context to the story.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 5, 2019  Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers  ISBN:  978-0451469939
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Black History Month

2/1/2019

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Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson ill Don Tate

The teaching of the whole truth will help us in the direction of a real democracy.
​Carter G Woodson 1944
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Deborah Hopkinson introduces young readers to an important historical figure: Carter G. Woodson.

​Born in 1875, the son of a formerly enslaved father and mother, young Carter grew up hearing the stories of his Virginian parents' struggles. Times were hard for this family. As a result, Woodson left school in his early teens to labor as a farm-hand, garbage collector, and coal miner. He and other West Virginia coal miners were often invited to the home of Oliver Jones, a Civil War veteran. Carter would read the newspapers to Jones and the other miners, researching and answering their questions.
​At age 20, he moved back to Virginia, graduating from high school. He went on to earn bachelor's and master's degrees. At age thirty-seven, he was the second African American to earn a PhD from Harvard University. His life's work centered on researching and promoting Black history. This historian and educator established Negro History Week in 1926. He is recognized as the father of Black History Month.
Hopkinson sprinkles quotes from Woodson throughout the text, giving an immediacy and relevancy to the narrative. This biography stresses of the importance of education, reading, and research. Like Carter, young readers can learn more about their world and work for positive change.
Don Tate's realistic illustration style features slightly enlarged heads. Memories are rendered in a monochromatic palette and to the side of a full-color full color portrait. The book features full page spreads highlighting significant events in Woodson's life: a crushing mine incident, reading a newspaper, and wearing full academic regalia on receiving a PhD from Harvard University. The cameo portraits of important African American individuals feature a variety of occupations and a spectrum of skin tones. Line drawings of historical individuals from Nzinga of Ndongo and Joseph Cinqué to contemporary figures such as Katherine Johnson and Colin Kaepernick are a bonus.
The book's value is significantly enriched with extensive back matter which includes a bibliography of online and print resources, an Author's Note, an Illustrator's Note, a roster of the forty-three Black leaders pictured throughout its pages, a timeline of Woodson's life and accomplishments, and quotation citations. A rich resource for teachers and students.
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Carter Reads the Newspaper is an excellent introduction to African American History Month.
Use this poster with a display of books featuring biographies, historical accounts, historical fiction, and other works by Black authors and illustrators.  Download a copy of the poster featuring an inspiring quote and art by Don Tate.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 1, 2019  Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company  ISBN: 978-1561459346
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Finding Your Voice

1/18/2019

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"the story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself a new one"
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For two decades Laurie Halse Anderson has been speaking out, giving voice to teens who have experienced horrific trauma. Speak has brought the shame and humiliation experienced by rape victims out of the dark recesses of suppressed memory. Acknowledging the suffering, the rage. Initiating the first steps to healing.
In my early years as a youth librarian, Speak was constantly requested, always checked out. The story is as relevant to a fourteen-year-year-old girl from a small Texas town in 2000 as it is to a teen living in urban New York in 2019.
Now Anderson has added two companion books to her YA classic: a graphic novel and a personal memoir. Together these three make a significant contribution to the canon of important literature for young adults.
Here’s the beauty of these books: you can read them in any order. Maybe you discovered Speak long ago and recently learned that there was a graphic novel version of the story that spoke so poignantly to teens. Maybe you see a shiny new book titled Shout with an intriguing cover and now seek for other books by the author. Doesn't matter which book you read first, the order will be just right for you. No matter who you are or where you come from, the journey through pain and anger to triumph over tragedy can be found within these pages,
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Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson

It all started in 1999. Laurie Halse Anderson published her first book: a ground-breaking young adult novel chronicling the story of fifteen-year-old Melinda Sordino. Beginning her freshman year, this young student is ostracized by her former friends and classmates. She is singled out at a school pep rally for calling the police at a summer party.
What Melinda cannot say is that she was raped at that party. School becomes unbearable. She is constantly confronted with the shame and agony of that night, as the boy who raped her is a student at her school. Shunned by her friends, 
Melinda's life has deteriorated to the point where she seldom speaks. Art class is her refuge. Creating becomes a means of safely expressing herself. With the encouragement of Mr. Freeman, her art teacher, she is able to face the reality of her sexual assault. She begins to acknowledge her hurt, finally confronts her attacker, and eventually finds the courage to speak up and speak out.
Speak earned the distinguished honor of being named a finalist for the 1999 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.
​Copy accessed from public library
Pub date: October 22, 1999   Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux  ISBN:  978-0374371524
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Speak: The Graphic Novel
​by Laurie Halse Anderson ill by Emily Carroll
Publishing a graphic novel version of Speak is both an obvious choice and a brilliant decision. This visceral narrative translates to striking visual imagery.
Anderson chooses to update the original story, including references to cell phones and Instagram. This gives the narrative a fresh, contemporary vibe. Her Author's Note serves as an introduction. A helpful list of organizations which support victims of sexual assault contains descriptions and contact information can be found in the back matter.
​Emily Carroll eschews the traditional panel strip format, opting for a mix of full page images, spaces defined by diagonal lines, and boxes outlined in bold black. She uses Mel's facial expressions and body language to tell the story. Close-ups of a hand or part of a face provide sharp focal points. ​The excruciatingly raw self-portraits are painful to view. At times her face is mutilated, often distorted, even erased as Mel reveals her self-loathing. Most illustrations are rendered in multiple shades of gray. Intense scenes are a violent study in black, the anger exploding on a page that a rigid panel box cannot contain.
​Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 6, 2018   Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)  ISBN:  978-0374300289
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Shout
by Laurie Halse Anderson

Told primarily in verse, this memoir covers a wide range of events and emotions. Part One shares moments from Laurie’s difficult and conflicted childhood, her rape at age thirteen and subsequent reliance on drugs to mask the anguish, the slow ascent from depression during tenth grade, her year as a foreign exchange student in Denmark, and her foray into writing for teens. Part Two explores the publication of Speak and the impact it has had on her and a world-wide audience. Part Three returns to recurring symbols and themes: trees, blood, family, and stories. She acknowledges her parents’ personal troubles, but is willing to maintain a relationship with each. What a generous heart!
I loved the little glimpses into her extraordinary life. Some of my favorite poetic snapshots include her year in Denmark, her dream or more aptly described as her nightmare that was the genesis for Speak, and Laurie's heartwarming meeting with Walter Dean Myers.
While Shout is an apt name, some poems feel like they should be read sotto voce. These verses are the inner longings of the wounded yet resilient spirit that resides in many, far too many of us.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 12, 2019  Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers  ISBN:  978-0670012107

Bonus: Additional Resources

Since my early draft of this post, a twentieth anniversary edition of Speak​ has been released. It includes a new introduction by Ashley C. Ford as well as an afterword by Jason Reynolds. This edition also features an updated Q&A, resource list, an essay, and poem by Anderson. I look forward to reading this updated edition.
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I’ve Talked With Teenage Boys About Sexual Assault for 20 Years.
​This Is What They Still Don’t Know
 Laurie Halse Anderson Time January 15, 2019
Laurie reads "Me,Too" from Shout.
Laurie reads "Listen" from the 20th edition of Speak.
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    Barbara Moon

    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
    2013, - present  Audies judge 
    American Library Association Book Awards and Lists 
    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

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