BOOK REVIEW: THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE BY ABI DARE'

 

About

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.

My Thoughts

"Your schooling is your voice, child. It will be speaking for you even if you didn't open your mouth to talk. It will be speaking till the day God is calling you come."

This book was very emotional and meaningful to me in so many ways. Adunni represented so many girls, not only in Nigeria but worldwide who because of where they come from even in the 21st century have no access to education. This was a work of fiction, yes, but it taught me so much. People often see you reading a novel and think you just reading for entertainment only, but what books like this do for me is to allow me to understand a world that I cannot even imagine.

The prose was outstanding. I loved that the most. It was very original and as a lover of Nigerian films made it very easy to read. I like how Dare' added elements of humor in the story as well because it helped to have the comic relief interwoven with all the emotional things going on.

The cast of characters all were significant in the book, Adunni, Kofi, Tia, Big Daddy but honestly it was Big Madam that stood out for me. Yes she was abusive and downright evil but there was a sadness within her that was presented beautifully I think and it made me feel for her. I would have loved to discuss this book face to face with someone who has read it because there are so many issues that one can discuss.

In all this was a great book.