The book was archived before our group could download it. We are sure that we would have enjoyed the book judging from the reviews it has received.

The Girl with the Louding Voice is a powerful and moving novel about a young Nigerian girl named Adunni. Adunni is forced into early marriage to an older man, but she refuses to give up her dreams of getting an education.

The novel follows Adunni as she struggles to survive in a society that is hostile to her dreams. She is beaten by her husband, sold into domestic slavery, and forced to work in a brothel. But through it all, she never gives up hope.

Adunni is a resilient and determined character. She is also a gifted storyteller, and her voice is strong and compelling. The novel is told from her perspective, and she uses her words to fight for her own freedom and the freedom of other girls like her.

The Girl with the Louding Voice is a timely and important novel. It shines a light on the issue of child marriage, and it is a call to action for all of us to fight for the rights of girls and women around the world.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Once I got used to the language, it turned out to be a great book. The characters are fantastically developed and very likeable.

Oh how much did I love this book! I could hear her voice throughout- and yes it was a loading voice! Beautifully written, the detail within is exquisite, even down to how the writing and language evolve as she gets older and learns more english. At times heartbreaking and full of poverty and abuse, this is still a book of hope, of education and freedom. One of the best books I have ever read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was compelled to pick it up and read at every opportunity.
A heart breaking read of a young girl in Nigeria and the life she leads, and what she is faced with. I could not help myself from becoming emotionally attached to Adunni.
Her will to overcome obstacles, succeed and be heard was inspirational.

I really loved this book. A lot of affection for the main character. Also loved how the story was told. Will definitely read more by the author.

An important and pacey read, I couldn't put this down. I know I'm late to the party (sorry) but I really adored this tale of a girl, in rural Nigeria, sold into marriage, determined to free herself and be a "girl with a louding voice".

This coming of Age story , truly inspiring and original voice.

I really liked Adunni, I love that the writer gave her her own voice and let us inside her thoughts.
Adunni mum died and soon that happened her dad sold her to marry and became third wife so he can get some food. It’s sad when you see that it’s normal to marry young. I really liked how the writer compare the rural and urban life ( like when she is surprised that children begged in the street of Lagos, and that is shameful in the village) .
Very inspirational book after all the suffering and heartache you need to keep going.

The Girl With The Louding Voice is a coming of age story set in Nigeria; the story of fifteen year old Adunni, told in her own words, moving from the poverty of a rural village to a different sort of poverty among the affluent classes of the city, where workers are treated almost as slaves.

In many ways it's a disturbing tale, spotlighting the treatment of girls and women as commodities to be traded, in a society where men are of primary importance, and which is drastically divided between rich and poor. First Adunni is effectively sold to a much older man, already married with two wives, when her father can't pay his debts, then she goes to work for a woman in the city but all her wages go to the 'agent', the man who placed Adunni in her job, and her employer's husband feels any of the female servants should be amenable to his sexual advances.

On the other hand, it's a story of hope, and it's hope that stays with the reader as the overall feel of the book. Whatever her situation, Adunni's resilience and determination shine through. She's adamant that somehow she'll find a way to finish her education, and be able to speak out, in her louding voice, on behalf of girls and women trapped as she is.

It's an amazing debut, told in an original, captivating voice, with Adunni finding humour and compassion in life despite her predicaments. I found myself rather regretting that her attempts to improve her English, seen as the key to bettering her prospects, would result in a watering down of Adunni's lively manners of speech.

I say to customers "read the last two paragraphs on Page 164 ". They then buy the book. These two paragraphs encapsulate a lot of what I loved about this book. The Narrator, Adunni, comes from a poor Nigerian village so when she encounters a difefrent class culture in Nigeria, she is able to make observations that are based on a very different frame of reference - sometimes to comic effect (as in this example).

Adunni is an intelligent girl who wants to get herself an education and make her "louding voice " heard. However she faces many obstacles that woud have crushed a less resilient person.

Her voice as a narrator really stays with you,One customer remarked it's like Maya Angelou's voice. . The author's skill isn't limited to the main character. In Big Mama we have a character that could have been an evil "ogress" but Dare takes time to reveal her back story and leaves us to decide why she has turned out that way.


If you loved "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Adichie you will love this book, as well as learning more about more recent Nigerian history.

The book is like a piece of brightly coloured cloth that shimmers with vibrancy.

The voice of Africa, All of the truth of Africa today is related in this brilliant book. The religion, the ancient beliefs, the rough, pragmatic justice dispensed by the village elders. Modern and ancient misogynism, the creeping encroachment of western life in Lagos, the influence of those returning from the diaspora.
Brilliantly, handled, showing all the difficulties for young women in Africa today told in a unique voice of today, the fear, the bravery but above all the optimism.

Abi Daré’s debut is an unforgettable portrayal of a young Nigerian girl finding her voice and fighting for her right to a better life.

The story follows Adunni, a 14-year-old girl who is sold to an older man so her father can claim her bride price. Throughout the story, what shines through is Adunni’s kindness towards others, even those who beat and degrade her, and her unwavering hope for a brighter future.

Daré writes in a beautiful way, allowing Adunni to narrate the story in her own voice using her limited English which for me, made the narrative even more authentic and compelling.

I loved this novel and I can’t wait to see what Abi Daré produces next.

Incredible. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is written exquisitely, and is phenomenally beautiful story.

I was captivated from the start. The book is empowering and highly recommendable. Rich in story, language and culture.

Abi Dare brings us an important narrative of how girls in today's society still experience no control over their lives - forced into marriage, sex, pregnancy all before 16 instead of having an education and this most prominent thing is how this is normalised - if you need a book to allow you to realise how much you take for granted as both a man and woman, this is it.

The narrative of Adunni is such a profound voice that shows the innocence and lack of understanding of the world that girls like her have. As she learns about a world closer to our own it highlights this expansive gap. Through her, we see the struggles girls face and feel the frustration of not being free to learn and to speak like many of us are.

It shocked me that so many characters were bad - although we are shown the struggles they face individually; whether or not it justifies their actions is up to the reader. This book really made me reflect on how little opportunities Adunni had and how many girls like her wouldn't be able to get out the situations she found herself in.

The story does challenge whether it is to right to use your voice - change doesn't come if we are silent but there were times where Adunni would fare better if she kept silent which she cannot grasp and made me want to shake her at some points. But it is her louding voice and bravery that savers her and shows just how powerful a persistent voice can be.

Whilst this book has a slow start and the dialect may be challenging for readers, I'd recommend everyone to read this book at some point in their lives.

Thanks to Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me an ARC copy of this novel that I freely chose to review, and I am happy I’ve been given this opportunity.
This is one of those books best enjoyed by immersing yourself in it. It is one of those novels that you can see with your mind’s eye and you can imagine being right next to the protagonist (it is narrated in the first person by Adunni, a fourteen year old girl with a very special voice) as the action happens, and you’d love to be able to advise or help her, to protect her from some of the things she has to go through and to warn her at times when she does something foolish. This is not a novel constructed for an analytical mind, where everything fits in neatly; all the characters are consistent throughout; there is not a paragraph of excess information; and where clichés and common places are avoided like the plague. Reading it, I got the feeling that this was a book written with the heart (and the author, in the acknowledgements, explains her process quite well), and it pull at one’s heartstrings. It’s an emotional experience.
In this debut novel, we witness the coming of age of the main character, Adunni, who has to experience things that will be completely alien to most readers (we might have read about them, but, thankfully, many of us have never been exposed to them). Although this is no mystery novel, I won’t go into a lot of detail about the plot. There is child marriage, physical and sexual abuse, exploitation and servitude (she calls it “slavery without the chains” and it is quite an apt description), cheating and lies, poverty and desperation, and a fascinating look at Nigeria and at the huge contrasts there, from outright poverty to extreme wealth. We have a mix of rural customs and traditions with high-tech and modernity, and a society where women are still subservient to men, and where education, rather than a right, is a privilege, especially if you’re a woman.
Adunni is a wonderful character. She has lost her mother to illness when we meet her, and she has become a mother to her younger brother, but still misses her own mother, who instilled in her the importance of getting an education and having her own voice. Unfortunately, her father does not keep his promise to his dead wife and decides to try to solve his financial difficulties by marrying his daughter to a much older man (she is to be the man’s third wife, as he wants to have a son, and that has not happened yet). Nobody seems to understand her reluctance to marry, as many of her friends see this as an opportunity, their best option and their fate. You won’t be surprised if I tell you her marriage proves to be a harrowing experience, although she gets on well with the man’s second wife, who becomes a friend and mother-figure to her. Unfortunately, things go from bad to worse, she has to run away and ends up as a servant to a rich woman in Lagos. I wouldn’t say she jumps from the frying pan to the fire, but there is little to choose from between the two situations. What makes Adunni particularly endearing is the fact that through all her troubles she remains optimistic. She gets scared at times, she freezes and does not know what to do (and often takes rushed decisions she lives to regret), she talks too much and gets herself into trouble often (even when she thinks ‘I shouldn’t say that’, she often says it anyway), but even though she does not always do what is best for her, she tries hard to help others and at times puts herself at risk to defend others. She is also eager to learn and will take any opportunity to try, sometimes with hilarious results. She is innocent regarding certain things (she understands how rural society and things in her village work, but is totally naïve as to the workings of a great city), and also gives everybody the benefit of the doubt, always thinking the best of people, even after they disappoint her time and again. She misunderstands many things (she does think her English is much better than it really is, and her attitude towards the language endeared her to me, also a non-native English speaker), but she is never afraid to ask or question what she doesn’t understand, even when her questions are not welcomed. More than anything, she is a credible fourteen year old, who thinks she knows more than she knows, who has had to grow fast because of her circumstances, but still misses and needs her mother.
There are many other characters, most pretty memorable. If we think of the story like the typical quest (the hero’s journey concept), there are some characters who get in the way of Adunni achieving her dream, many horrendous (her husband, big Chief, Kola, his husband’s first wife and Florence, her boss, although we get to understand that they are also victims of their circumstances), some misguided or unable to see beyond the conventions (like her father), and others who help her move on, like Ms Tia and Kofi. Ms Tia made me think of a fairy godmother (and there is plenty of Cinderella in the story and other readers have mentioned similarities to other books), but we do get to learn about her personal circumstances as well, and the relationship benefits both of them, as Ms Tia also learns things about herself in the process. Although the plot is not original, and yes, there are many similarities with other stories and books, the character’s voice and the way she touches everybody around her make it a compelling story and a delight to read.
I’ve mentioned that Adunni narrates the story in the first-person, but she uses broken English that can be jarring to begin with (as an English teacher I couldn’t help but keep correcting her grammar in my head), but I think it communicates clearly the character’s circumstances, and serves her well to analyse and wonder at the world around her. She is very witty and comes up with some wonderful similes and comparisons when she first comes to the city, a completely new experience for her. And she can communicate her feelings and describe them beautifully, even with her limited English. For example, at the beginning of the book, when her father is telling her about his plans for her marriage, she thinks: ‘But sometimes, like today, the sorrow climb out of my heart and stick his tongue in my face.’ Her mother’s advice to her is probably the most quoted fragment of the book: ‘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.’ And, if you’re wondering where the title comes from… ‘I don’t just want to be having any kind voice… I want a louding voice.’ I know some readers have found the writing style off-putting, so I definitely recommend anybody thinking of purchasing and reading the book to check a sample first.
Some readers have complained about the ending. They feel it seems a bit too neat, rushed, and it does not seem to fit in with the rest of the story, but this is one of these books where you’re rooting for a character, and a hopeful and positive ending is the minimum she deserves. As I said, there is something of the fairy tale in the story, but the character works hard, studies, makes a big effort, and grows and evolves, without losing her hope and her enthusiasm, and hey, I enjoyed the ending. It might not feel realistic, but this is not that kind of novel.
I recommend this novel to readers interested in learning more about Nigeria and happy to accompany a delightful main character in her journey. She goes through some terrible experiences, so this is not an easy read, but it is a rewarding one. Make sure the writing style works for you, but if it does and you like the sound of it, go for it. It will pull at your heartstrings, and you’re likely to find a new favourite author. I will be eagerly waiting for her next book.

I loved this book, I loved Adunni. A heart rending but inspirational and ultimately uplifting story, I thought it was stunning.

Adunni wants to be a teacher; to continue her education is a promise she made her late mother. Life, however, doesn't take her down that path. Married off so her family can afford to live, escaping to Lagos in a clean break that's far from what she thought her newfound freedom would look like, it's a compelling, powerful story of a young girl in Nigeria whose ambitions never fade, whose voice never settles for silencing. Really loved this.

This is the story of Adunni a 14 year old Nigerian girl living a life of servitude after being forced into marriage and later sold as a domestic servant.
Adunni lost her Mother at a young age but it was her wish for her daughter to get an education and this is Adunni's priority in life. Its the only way forward for her she doesnt just want a voice, she wants a louding voice, to be heard and valued, to help other girls like her.
The language used in this book is beautiful although it took a little getting used to it came across as so authentic and really helped in connecting to Adunni as a character.
After the first chapter I was hooked, her narrative really flows and I was transported into Nigeria with her.
The perseverance, determination and hope Adunni shows is really inspiring and made it a very compelling read.
I love that the author included captions at the beginning of each chapter with facts about Nigeria as this provided not only a sense of place but felt like I was gaining knowledge and insight into the country which was an added bonus.
This book is beautiful, its also heartbreaking and thought provoking. One of my favourites of the year. Honestly as beautiful inside as it is on the outside.