SHOUT(32)
SAFE HORIZON: Offers resources to survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, child abuse, stalking, youth homelessness, and domestic violence. safehorizon.org.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION: This agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides services for people struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues. samhsa.gov.
Acknowledgments
The curious practice of turning ideas into poetry and poetry into a book like this one requires a chorus of people whose names must be shouted loudly.
All hail the patient copyeditors! Ryan Sullivan and Marinda Valenti tried their very best to keep me corralled with decent punctuation and grammar, but opened the gate to my stylistic quirks when I asked. The cover designer, Jessica Jenkins, and the designer of the interior, Nancy Brennan, created stunning art that amplifies my words—thank you!
Lindsay Boggs and Kaitlin Kneafsey are Publicity Miracle Workers. Thank you both for helping to put SHOUT into the hands of readers. I’d also like to give a huge shout-out (ha!) to Viking Books publisher Ken Wright, for his constant patience and kindness. A standing ovation goes to all of the other random Penguins who have been cheering on my work for nearly two decades, especially Jen Loja, Carmela Iaria, Erin Berger, Felicia Frazier, Emily Romero, Eileen Bishop Kreit, Shanta Newlin, Mary Raymond, and—last but not least—Trevor Ingerson. Being a part of your family makes me feel brave, and for that I am eternally grateful.
Tusind tak to Pernille Ripp, incredible teacher and founder of the Global Read Aloud (theglobalreadaloud.com) for kindly correcting my Danish spelling and grammar mistakes. Eric Gansworth (Onondaga), Lowery Writer-in-Residence at Canisius College, generously helped me work through the issue of properly centering the violence perpetrated on the Mohawk nation by settlers like my family. Thanks also to G. Donald Cribbs, counselor and author, who helped me develop the robust list of mental health resources.
My agent, Amy Berkower, has listened to me rant, fantasize, rage, and mutter for years, while waiting for books to be born. Thank you, dear friend, for your support and unflagging good cheer. Huzzahs to everyone else at Writers House, especially to Cecilia de la Campa, Executive Director, Global Licensing and Domestic Partnerships, for finding so many homes outside the United States for SHOUT and my other books. I’d also like to give an overdue shout of appreciation to Michael Mejias for his work to make publishing better reflect our country, and who warmly made me feel so welcome when I started working with Writers House.
The writing of this book began at the home of my buddies Greg Anderson and Sue Kressley. Thank you both for the space, the sunrises by the beach, and helping make our family whole. My assistant, Jenn Northington, is equal parts brilliant and magical; capable of creating time and space for me to do the working of writing—THANK YOU, Jenn! I could not have done this without you. My children and grandchildren are all poetry in motion. They are the light that keeps me going when darkness threatens. My sister-girl Deborah Heiligman is always there for me; in silence, in conversation, in disagreement, in growth, and in love. Thank you for everything, Debi.
This book would not, could not, have been written without the support and encouragement of my editor, Kendra Levin. She shall ever be called Kendra of the Keen Eye and Gentle Heart. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for helping me do this work, and for being such a warrior midwife.
Finally and forever, thank you to my oldest friend, my husband, Scot. Thanks for listening, for wiping away my tears, for bandaging my bruises, for supporting my art and my voice, and for lending me your strength when I couldn’t find my own. This world and the next, my love.
About the Author
Laurie Halse Anderson has received both the Margaret Edwards Award and the ALAN Award for her contributions to young adult literature. She has also been honored by the National Coalition Against Censorship in recognition of her fight to combat the censoring of literature. She is the author of the groundbreaking National Book Award finalist and Printz Honor Book Speak. She is also author of the critically acclaimed YA books Prom, Twitsted, Catalyst, Wintergirls, and The Impossible Knife of Memory. She has also authored a number of middle grade titles including The Vet Volunteers series, and the historical fiction Seeds of America Trilogy, which includes Forge, ALA Best Book for Young Adults Fever 1793, and the National Book Award finalist and Scott O’Dell Award-winner Chains. She and her husband live in northern New York State. Follow Laurie on Twitter @halseanderson and visit her at madwomanintheforest.com.