I enjoyed this book. The author made me feel the pain that Charlotte was feeling in various parts of the story due to her stuttering. I could also feel her triumph. The character of Maddison was lovely addition to the story as she served a Charlotte's acceptance.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Random House Children's for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of Say It Out Loud by Allison Varnes. This middle grades novel will be out on August 24, 2021. All opinions are my own.

Charlotte Andrews is nervous about starting middle school. She's perfectly fine with being quiet and flying under the radar. In fact, that's how she prefers it. When Charlotte and her best friend witness an act of bullying on the school bus, Charlotte stays quiet while her friend goes to the principal. The two friends are torn apart over the silence as Charlotte's friend becomes the new target of the bullies and Charlotte does nothing to stop it. To make things worse, Charlotte's parents are insisting that she take a musical theater class. Charlotte doesn't want to speak on stage or in class because of her stutter, but she doesn't stutter when she sings. As she starts to find her voice, she learns that the class is being cut next year. Rather than staying quiet, Charlotte starts a letter writing campaign to save the class. She also starts leaving anonymous encouraging notes around school. Words may just save Charlotte and the things she cares about, that is, if she can find the courage to speak up.

Say It Out Loud focuses on the importance of speaking your truth and standing up for what you believe in. It's about finding your voice and not being a bystander. Charlotte is put in a position that, sadly, many middle grade students may find familiar. The book depicts her struggles with her choices to not say anything and her discovery of her voice and the power of kind and encouraging words. I found the narrative voice inviting and I was easily able to connect to Charlotte and her situation. This book is a great choice for all middle grade classrooms.

This book should be a compulsory read for every middle schooler or soon to be middle schooler. Not only is this story beautifully written, with realistic characters, plot lines, and settings, but it provides such an uplifting message to those students who feel alone, marginalized, or different.

Readers will probably be inspired to take up their own campaigns of kindness or at least find the courage to find their own voice after reading this book.

A nice middle grade choice, if a little heavy on the lessons. The writing was clear and nicely level, the bullying scenes were particularly well done, and Charlotte felt well rounded and relatable. I did wish Maddie had a bit more depth so their friendship came off a bit more fully realized and emotionally impactful, and perhaps even would have appreciated a dual narrative between her and Charlotte - I think there was enough substance to her story to warrant it, and I often wished I could have seen her perspective - but it didn't make or break things.

This book was highly enjoyable. I can see it appealing to a lot of middle schoolers. Although Charlotte wasn't the most likable main character, I really appreciated seeing the depiction of a child going to speech therapy. I went to speech therapy all through middle school, and it was definitely frustrating to be pulled out of a class I actually liked! The message of this book was spot on, but it sometimes became overbearing. Even though Charlotte kept making mistakes, the ending made her seem holier-than-thou. She was just as a flawed as Aubrey. Overall, I think this is a fantastic book for the younger crowd and sure to appeal to many. #netgalley

Say It Out Loud was a good book. A story about a girl who believes in doing the right but has trouble speaking up. It takes losing a friend for Charlotte to find her voice and speak up. Through her writing class where Charlotte is able to journal and receive feedback from her teacher does she get the courage to speak up. It does come with a price because a fellow student decides to mess with Charlotte and Charlotte now speaks up but doesn't make amends with her friend. This is a story about navigating middle school and what friendship is all about.

What a great book about so many things- stuttering, bullying, friendship, telling your story, and making the world a better place. Charlotte stutters and is bullied for it, and on top of that her mom is forcing her to take theater. As the bullying situation gets worse, something happens which changes her friendship with her best friend. She knows she needs to do something, so Charlotte begins leaving anonymous kind notes around school which later catches on, Charlotte finds she enjoys the theater group, and when they hear it will be stoped after this year, she and the theater group decide to do something. Will it make a difference? Will Charlotte and her best friend become friends again? Charlotte finds if you don’t speak up, no one will hear your voice.

This is similar to lots of middle grade I've read, but what is different about this one is that the main character has a stutter and the author does as well. This put a new spin on the finding your voice theme.

A well-developed story of a taciturn girl who most find her voice to set things right. A plot many kids can relate to, and can help them see how to gain courage and confidence in their own situations.

The story follows Charlotte our main character who is about to enter middle school and is scared because she doesn't know what to expect. Charlotte has a speech problem; she often stutters and has one main friend Maggie. A problem occurs with Charlotte and Maggie and they stop being friends and Charlotte starts to write notes because she's more confident writing and getting her thoughts on paper than she is speaking.

I can see students relating to the story. I really enjoyed that the English teacher wants her students to write and encourages them to write and draw and just get their thoughts on paper.

Tw: Bullying

6th grade Charlotte loses her best friend when her stuttering keeps her from sticking up for Maggie against school bullies. So she resorts to the written word, sending notes of encouragement- to classmates, and support for the arts program- to the school board. Charlotte is no longer a silent bystander, but a voice that brings about positive change. She learns that speech does not define her- actions do. A subplot about the school musical wraps up improbably, but readers will rejoice with Charlotte’s success.

I have been drawn to books about using your voice to tackle hard issues (Amina's Voice, Count Me In). This book fits right in. More books about kids who have vocal struggles like stuttering need to be written. Books where kids are shown fighting for what is right need to be at the forefront. I am so thankful that I found this book.
#SayItOutLoud was given to me by #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable Read. The stuttering connection with our current President is an unexpected touch but a nice one. Charlotte's reaction to bullying is a gentle one and a nice touch if a bit unrealistic.

This book definitely focuses on finding your voice, facing your fears, and standing up for what's right. I love books that teach a great message without forcing it.

What an amazing book about finding your voice!! A story that I feel is needed now more than ever. I work with a lot of sixth graders and I can’t wait to put this uplifting and powerful middle grade novel in their hands!!!!

Sixth graders Maddie and Charlotte are the stars of this theme and character driven middle grade gem. As best friends, Maddie is totally accepts Charlotte's stutter, and is not one to stand by when one of their fellow sixth graders is bullied on the bus. More than anything, Charlotte does not want to call attention to her stuttering, and leaves Maddie to report the bullies and champion the bullied. Meanwhile, Charlotte's mom insists that Charlotte take theater, because she doesn't stutter when she sings, and this year it's Maddie's favorite musical, the Wizard of Oz. Mom was right. Theater taught Charlotte to hit your mark, look them in the eye, tell the truth, and get out of your own way. The majority of the action takes place on the bus, or with the theater gang, but being middle school, there is the angst of the lunch room. Thank you Random House Books For Young People and Netgalley for this arc.

How fortunate the children today can read books like this that contain real life dialogue and a protagonist
who deals with whatever is thrown at her. I wish books like this were around when I was growing up.
I will recommend this book to my children's literature classes.

This was a well written, engaging book. I enjoyed the authors voice. This would be an asset to any library collection.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC of Say It Out Loud by Allison Varnes. This book really resonated with me as I I really related to Charlotte, the main character of this book. Charlotte stutters and is self conscious of that. When her best friend gets bullied on the bus, Charlotte neglects to stand up for her, afraid that the bullies will then target her. This ruins their friendship, which Charlotte then has to try to repair. In another plot line, Charlotte loves musical theater and has learned that this will be the last year for the class. For both plot lines, she has to learn how to speak up for herself and how to "speak her truth". While I don't stutter, as a child, I was EXTREMELY shy and socially anxious yet still enthralled with musical theater. I recall seeing others bullied and knowing I should say something but being afraid to, for fear that the bullies would then pick on me. I lived Charlotte's story. I love how Charlotte found a way to speak her truth.

This book is such a timely title. While the issues the main character is struggling to raise her voice about are mostly bullying...it can apply to racist comments, political opinions, and the rights of others everywhere. This is great book with fast pacing that middle grade students will devour. It is funny and thoughtful and full of great life lessons.