American news personality and daughter of 43rd US President George W. Bush, Jenna Bush Hager has selected The Girl with the Louding Voice by debut novelist Abi Daré as her Read with Jenna pick for this month of February.
Read with Jenna is a book club that picks a new book to read together and discuss. and when anyone is looking for a book recommendation, there’s only one person to turn to: Jenna Bush Hager.
From debut novelist, Abi Daré, comes a powerful emotional debut story told in an unforgettable voice of a young Nigerian woman who is trapped in life of servitude but determined to get an education so that she can escape and choose her own future.
Abi Darés debut novel
Selecting “The Girl With The Louding Voice” by Abi Daré, Hager chose the author’s debut novel for its young heroine. “It’s about this young girl, Adunni, whose voice, from the time she is born, is strong, loud and clear but because of where she is born and the circumstances of her life, she doesn’t yet know how to use it,” Hager told TODAY.
The story finds Adunni still recovering from the death of her mother while living in a small Nigerian village. The teenager is forced into marriage by her father as a monetary exchange, making her unable to complete her education. The novel follows Adunni through many trials she must endure, yet her strong spirit and the memory of her mother’s encouragement to make something of her life keep her determined to overcome unthinkable obstacles.
Hager’s trip to Vietnam inspired her February pick, where she saw the book as a voice advocating for women’s rights around the globe. “Some of the things we take for granted,” Hager said. “She doesn’t get an education, she isn’t allowed to learn. Although it’s the fictional story of one young girl in Nigeria, it really is the story of so many others.”
“Some of the things we take for granted,” said Jenna, “She doesn’t get an education, she isn’t allowed to learn. Although it’s the fictional story of one young girl in Nigeria, it really is the story of so many others.”
Daré draws readers in with Adunni’s fresh and unique voice.
“It’s her (Adunni’s) voice,” said Jenna, “While reading, there were times when I felt like Adunni was whispering, singing and in parts, crying to me.”
While she wrote, Daré said it felt as if Adunni was dictating the story to her.
“It was very strange. It felt like she was sitting in front of me and saying, ‘This is how you should write it.’ I would sort of rewrite it until I felt that act (was) satisfied,” Daré told TODAY.
