Say It Out Loud
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
An empowering look at finding your voice, facing your fears, and standing up for what's right, from the author of Property of the Rebel Librarian.
Charlotte Andrews is perfectly fine being quiet--in fact, she prefers it. When she doesn't speak, people can't make fun of her stutter. But when she witnesses bullying on the school bus and doesn't say anything, her silence comes between her and her best friend.
As if that wasn't bad enough, her parents signed her up for musical theater. Charlotte doesn't want to speak onstage, but at least she doesn't stutter when she sings. Then, just as she starts to find her voice, the arts program is cut. Charlotte can't stay silent anymore.
So she begins to write. Anonymous encouraging notes to her classmates. Letters to the school board to save the school musical. And an essay about the end of her best friendship--and her hope that she can still save it.
Words could save Charlotte Andrews and everything she believes in . . . if she just believes in herself enough to speak up.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With an authentic tween voice and relatable implied-white characters, Varnes's (Property of the Rebel Librarian) second novel centers Charlotte Andrews, a bespectacled musical lover who has a stutter and fears letting anyone hear it. Charlotte and her outspoken best friend, Maddie Hobson, are new sixth graders at Carol Burnett Middle School, and the duo will be riding the bus for the first time. Despite having Maddie by her side, Charlotte is deeply self-conscious about her stutter. When Maddie gets involved after witnessing a bullying incident on the bus, the bullies turn their sights on her, and Charlotte inadvertently hurts Maddie to protect herself. Suddenly, Charlotte finds herself adrift, agonizing over leaving class for speech sessions, trying to stay out of anyone's crosshairs, and learning about her own voice—particularly how little gestures can make a big difference. When the musical theater class her parents enrolled her in is threatened, Charlotte must decide if she's willing to publicly stand up for something she believes in. Middle grade readers will find reassurance in this affirming story of choosing kindness and making amends. Front matter includes an author's note. Ages 8–12.
