Reviews with content warning for Adult/minor relationship - The Girl with the Louding Voice

Such a compelling, beautiful, heartbreaking story. This debit novel introduces you to 14 yo Adunni—a Nigerian girl whose mother died when she was young, who is sold into marriage at 14 by her father. She is abused by her husband’s first wife and runs away only to be sold into indentured servitude in a wealthy household where she again faces abuse. Through it all she holds fast to her desire to learn—reading the dictionary and a Nigerian history book whenever she can—and her desire to use that knowledge to teach others. A long shot scholarship opportunity arises and with the help of a friend Adunni seizes her chance to take her future into her own hands.

Content Warnings

reggiethebird's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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jvantland's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The audiobook narrator was fantastic and added a whole new dimension to this story. That said, this story, especially with such realistic narration, became unbearably graphic. The abuse Adunni suffers is horrific and the lack of justice and her Stockholm syndrome, it was all a lot to take on. It felt sadistic to read of her graphic torment, bewilderment and fear. I skipped over a lot of it.

A powerful story, but be aware of the trigger warnings. I didn’t take them seriously enough.

Content Warnings

bringmybooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

There is very little to be said about this book that hasn't already been said, so I'm going to let the quotes (&my review infographic things) speak for themselves:

✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷

“Who knows what else tomorrow will bring? So, I nod my head yes, because it is true, the future is always working, always busy unfolding better things, and even if it doesn’t seem so sometimes, we have hope of it.”

“My mama say 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. I want to live in this life and help many people so that when I grow old and die, I will still be living through the people I am helping.”

“When you get up every day, I want you to remind yourself that tomorrow will be better than today. That you are a person of value. That you are important.”

“I want to tell her that God is not a cement building of stones and sand. That God is not for all that putting inside a house and locking Him there. I want her to know that the only way to know if a person find God and keep Him in their heart is to check how the person is treating other people, if he treats people like Jesus says--with love, patience, kindness, and forgiveness.”

(but seriously - this was a wonderful book, even as it was very hard to read (subject matter) at times. It was worth it. It feels necessary. I highly recommend it.)

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