The Girl with the Louding Voice

• Genre: Fiction; coming-of-age novel
• Originally Published: 2020
• Reading Level/Interest: 810L; college/adult
• Structure/Length: 56 chapters; approximately 384 pages; approximately 12 hours, 6 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The central conflict in the story follows Adunni, a young girl from a rural village in Nigeria with a powerful desire to get an education and find her “louding voice,” or the ability to speak up for herself. After a forced marriage to a much older man, Adunni faces oppression and mistreatment, but she refuses to give up on her dreams. The novel chronicles her journey to overcome societal obstacles and find her voice. It explores themes of gender inequality, education, and resilience.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Gender-based violence; domestic abuse; human trafficking; oppression; child marriage; depiction of challenging social conditions

Abi Daré, Author

• Bio: Nigerian-British author known for her debut novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice, which received significant acclaim for its portrayal of societal issues; earned a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Wolverhampton and a master’s degree in international project management; advocates for the rights of girls and women, particularly in Africa
• Other Works: You are not Going Back (2021); And So I Roar (2024)
• Awards: The Bath Novel Award (2018)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide: