LOUDER THAN WORDS, by Ashley Woodfolk and Lexi Underwood, Scholastic Press, June 4, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult)
A teen is forced to address regrettable actions from her past in Louder Than Words, a YA novel by Ashley Woodfolk and Lexi Underwood.
When Jordyn Jones transfers to Edgewood High, it’s her opportunity to forget everything that happened at her old school. To forget what she and her friends did. To forget who she used to be. That was a different person ― this is a fresh start. Now she’s someone new, someone better.
Except it’s the very first day of school, and somehow everyone already seems to know who she is. But Jordyn soon finds a group of friends, and she even starts talking to Izaiah, a soccer star who shares her love of art. Life is good. That’s until an anonymous podcast called Tomcat Tea begins revealing humiliating secrets about Edgewood students, ruining their reputations and in some cases their futures. Jordyn and her friends know they have to do something―and this is Jordyn’s chance to prove to herself that she’s changed.
Jordyn’s plan to take down the podcast throws her into the spotlight, and as the momentum builds, so do the risks―because Jordyn has a secret of her own, one that could ruin everything . . . and that a mysterious harasser online is threatening to expose.
New York Times bestselling author Ashley Woodfolk and actress Lexi Underwood balance an insightful depiction of the power of art as protest with asking some of the biggest questions facing teenagers today ― in an era where mistakes can be picked over endlessly online, who is worthy of forgiveness? Can someone ever really change? —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press
Louder Than Words is one of those books that you can just sit down with and go. You don’t have to “get into” it or “connect” with the characters — that’s already in place. From the start, the prose is both familiar and comfortable, and the story is compelling, making you want to read it from beginning to end. (I read it in one day.)
You wouldn’t know Louder Than Words has two authors. Ashley Woodfolk and Lexi Underwood have expertly combined their voices into a cohesive read.
At the center of the story is Jordyn, a girl who is hoping to put the past behind her but hasn’t really dealt with it enough to move on. She’s a likeable, but flawed, protagonist whose story unfolds mostly during present day but with flashes back to the previous year.
Louder Than Words delves into the world of bullying, owning mistakes, online presence and forgiveness. Jordyn faces problems that are relatable to a wide cross-section of teens, and must decide where to draw the line between “right” and “wrong.”
There are a few places where things are maybe a little too on-the-nose and the pacing could be a bit tighter, but overall, Louder Than Words is an engaging read.
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