The Girl with the Louding Voice

I read this book when I was quite sick so all I remember is the raging headache I got when reading it.
But nevertheless, I feel like this was a powerful book that spoke about the struggles a 14-year old endured in nigeria and how she rose above those struggles with her louding voice.
I feel like it's not fair to rate this book as I read it at a bad time but I think everyone would benefit from picking up this book.

I love the unexpected kindness found in the characters that Adouni found herself surrounded by. The way they cared for her was equal in measure to how other characters treated her poorly, but it was beautiful. Adouni's innocence was consistent and made her character feel real.

DNF

A lovely story about perseverance, grit and staying true to your dreams. And redemption. Loved it.

CW: child marriage, rape, sexual assault, pedophilia, death, miscarriage, and physical violence.

CW: child marriage, rape, sexual assault, pedophilia, death, miscarriage, and physical violence.

Adunni's mother, her strongest advocate—the one who scraped together the money to send Adunni to school—is dead, and now her father sells her to an older man as the man's third wife for a bride price that will feed and house her father and her brothers. Adunni is fourteen.

How does that sound? If you feel compelled to read it, then I say to you, Skip the rest of this review and go listen to the audio of this book. Maybe also get a copy of the book so you can read for yourself once you get into the rhythm of Adunni's dialect.

Here are a few parts that struck me with their beauty:

“‘My mama says education will give me a voice. I want more than just a voice, Ms. Tia. I want a louding voice,' I say. ‘I want to enter a room and people will hear me even before I open my mouth to be speaking.'”

“My eyes was just watching myself, watching as the picture of schooling that I put on top a table in my heart was falling to the floor and scattering into small, small pieces.”

Adunni makes a friend who tells her, “God has given you all you need to be great, and it sits right there inside of you...Right inside your mind, in your heart... That you are a person of value. That you are important.”

I loved this book. I love Adunni's louding voice. I watched her as she entered a room and heard her before she even opened her mouth to be speaking.

Such a hard, yet beautiful read. Adunni is 15, and despite the obstacles of being a young girl with no voice, she manages to overcome heartache, pain, and horrible mistreatment.

She has a fountain of strength inside her heart and even when people tell her she is nothing she smiles, has an open and loving soul and manages to see good in people.

Talk about a beautiful soul and a well written story. Highly recommend this one.

All the stars! You have to read this book. It is a beautiful tale of courage in the face of adversity, of light in times of darkness. It made me cry (a lot - sometimes with joy!) and also made me laugh out loud. Adunni is absolutely delightful. She is kind and courageous, clever and optimistic - one of my favourite characters in literature EVER!

I feel like I am gushing, but I think I have discovered a new all time favourite. Read it!!

Difficult to read at times because of the descriptions of abuse. Every character has a distinct voice, the writing style is almost cinematic, and there's a satisfying ending.

4.5