The Girl with the Louding Voice: A Novel

A stunning debut from Abi Daré, The Girl With a Louding Voice tells the traumatic story of a 14-year-old Nigerian girl, determined to overcome her wretched circumstances to achieve her lofty aspiration of becoming a teacher. Following her dear mother’s death, Adunni is forced by her father, desperate for money, to marry a man with two other wives and a handful of children, the oldest the same age as Adunni. One of the wives attempts to help Adunni acclimate to their cruel husband’s treatment. But a devastating event sends Adunni on the run for her life. Hoping to find safety, she only stumbles into another miserable trap: domestic slavery. The mysterious disappearance of the unpaid house-girl she replaced looms heavy over her, and the abuse she sustains while working in the home threatens Adunni’s ambition. But perhaps with the help of an unsuspecting friend, Adunni can finally acquire the western education to become a teacher that she’s always dreamed of.

Written in broken English, this first-person narrative is tedious to read at first; however, readers will eventually become acquainted with its cadence. Though incredibly bleak throughout, there are glimmers of hope that stand out as the true strength of the novel. Daré manages to highlight social grievances in a way that calls for action. It’s astonishing that this is Daré’s first book; hopefully there will be more.