One of our book fairies in Maine, USA, has kindly written a review of this incredible book!
About the book:
The unforgettable, inspiring story of a teenage girl growing up in a rural Nigerian village who longs to get an education so that she can find her “louding voice” and speak up for herself, The Girl with the Louding Voice is a simultaneously heartbreaking and triumphant tale about the power of fighting for your dreams. Despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in her path, Adunni never loses sight of her goal of escaping the life of poverty she was born into so that she can build the future she chooses for herself – and help other girls like her do the same. Her spirited determination to find joy and hope in even the most difficult circumstances imaginable will “break your heart and then put it back together again” (Jenna Bush Hager on The Today Show) even as Adunni shows us how one courageous young girl can inspire us all to reach for our dreams…and maybe even change the world.
A book fairy review:
Life is not easy for Adunni. On her deathbed, Adunni’s mom asks her father to promise he would send her to school to get an education. In the first of many broken promises, she is given instead in marriage to an old man in her Nigerian village, the youngest of three wives, in hopes that she will produce a son. When an unspeakable tragedy occurs in that household, Adunni flees and her life becomes a day to day struggle of survival. Adunni becomes a victim of the endless cycle of oppression and exploitation, but she holds tight to her dream of getting an education and finding her voice – a louding voice where she fights injustice and inequality and makes a difference in her world.
Abi Dare’s debut is awe-inspiring. Adunni is an unforgettable character, and her story is vividly told with raw emotion, honesty and strength. As her story unfolds, Adunni observes the people around her and learns that injustice and cruelty have deep roots, and that greed, power, and neglect are powerful motivators. She finds a way to understand but not accept that path. Instead she fights to preserve her dignity, self-worth, and her dreams.
Adunni’s voice lingers in your head after you close the pages of this book. Her story breaks your heart yet gives you hope, and quietly urges you to go find and use your own louding voice.
Get your hands on the book:
You could get the book on Hive Books (currently out of stock but more soon!) or have a look in your local bookstore! If they don’t have it, did you know you can ask them to order it in for you? You can support your local bookshop and get a great new read! Win win!
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