The Girl with the Louding Voice

Author(s): Abi Dare

Staff Picks- Read our reviews

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A READ WITH JENNA TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB PICK   "Brave, fresh . . . unforgettable."--The New York Times Book Review "A celebration of girls who dare to dream."--Imbolo Mbue, author of Behold the Dreamers (Oprah's Book Club pick)Shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and recommended by The New York Times, Marie Claire, Vogue, Essence, PopSugar, Daily Mail, Electric Literature, Red, Stylist, Daily Kos, Library Journal, The Everygirl, and Read It Forward   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.

"The title gives a hint that this story will not read in a conventional way and that your way of interpreting English will be challenged. We first meet Adunni the narrator of this story in a tiny village in Nigeria, the year is 2014. Adunni is a beautifully spirited and feisty young woman. Her story is told in English, her second language and so the way she interprets certain situations is naive but not in a negative way, in a charming and refreshing way. This is a testament to the talent of Abi Dare, the author.


Adunni is fourteen years old and lives in a small compound with her father and two brothers, her mother died tragically from the 'blood coughing disease' many years ago. Adunnis' life is about to change as she is to be married to an older man, Morufu, with three wives, many daughters but no sons. Adunni, although barely a woman herself, offers the chance to produce the precious male heir. Morufu has offered a handsome payment for her betrothal, and as she is aware how desperately her family needs this money, she decides there is no option but to be married off.


However Adunni has been dreaming of only one thing her whole life, an education. She desperately wants a 'louding voice' and to make a difference in the world, just like her late mother had wished her to do. Poverty and a father who does not share these ideas means there are few options open to Adunni, so she accepts her path with great sorrow and hopes one day her circumstances will change. Her wishes come true in the form of a tragic event and Adunni is faced with the chance to change her life forever, and so she makes a run for it.


Adunnis story is a tale of perseverance even when everything feels lost and hopeless. Inner strength and her mothers guiding voice is what keeps Adunni going thorough some of her most gruelling moments. The journey will make you sad at times but mostly you will be smiling at Adunnis view of the world. A fantastic book.' Gaby"


Product Information

General Fields

  • : 9781529359275
  • : Hodder & Stoughton
  • : Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
  • : 0.3
  • : November 2020
  • : ---length:- '19.8'width:- '12.9'units:- Centimeters
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Abi Dare
  • : Paperback
  • : English
  • : 823.92
  • : 320
  • : FA