And So I Roar: A Novel

by Abi Daré Narrated by Adjoa Andoh

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Join Adunni on the next step of her journey to education and self-actualization, and meet Tia, Abi Daré's newest heroine in this ongoing story of resilience, sisterhood and hope.

A stunning, heartwrenching new novel from Abi Daré, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl with the Louding Voice

When Tia accidentally overhears a whispered conversation between her mother-terminally ill and lying in a hospital bed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria-and her aunt, the repercussions will send her on a desperate quest to uncover a secret her mother has been hiding for nearly two decades.

Back home in Lagos a few days later, Adunni, a plucky fourteen-year-old runaway, is lying awake in Tia's guest room. Having escaped from her rural village in a desperate bid to seek a better future, she's finally found refuge with Tia, who has helped her enroll in school. It's always been Adunni's dream to get an education, and she's bursting with excitement.

Suddenly, there's a horrible knocking at the front gate. . . .

It's only the beginning of a harrowing ordeal that will see Tia forced to make a terrible choice between protecting Adunni or finally learning the truth behind the secret her mother has hidden from her. And Adunni will learn that her “louding voice,” as she calls it, is more important than ever, as she must advocate to save not only herself but all the young women of her home village, Ikati.

If she succeeds, she may transform Ikati into a place where girls are allowed to claim the bright futures they deserve-and shout their stories to the world.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Daré delivers a gut-wrenching reminder that every woman has a lion inside her waiting to break free." —Booklist (Starred Review)

“Part old-fashioned adventure yarn, part feminist manifesto, and completely captivating.” —Kirkus (Starred Review)

“Abi Daré is a novelist of great power, wit, and invention. She never misses a step, never drops a sentence, never takes a wrong narrative turn. Her characters burn in my memory forever, as if they were people I had known— and will forever care about. Daré is not only gifted, she is also a gift.”
—Elizabeth Gilbert, #1 New York Times bestselling author of City of Girls and Eat, Pray, Love

"An edge-of-your-seat return to the world of Adunni from The Girl with the Louding Voice, with her unmistakable voice and big dreams.  An uplifting story of friendship and sisterhood amid seemingly insurmountable obstacles." —Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake

"From the very first page, Daré has proved, once again, that she is a masterful storyteller to be reckoned with. And So I Roar is a searing, thrilling depiction of the bonds of womanhood that guide us from the villages of Nigeria into something like hope. An engaging, engrossing, remarkable read."  —Tara M. Stringfellow, national bestselling author of Memphis and Magic Enuff: poems
 
“An enduring story of hope, love and the power we hold, if only we’re brave enough to use it. And So I Roar is a beautiful novel, not easily forgotten.” —Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of The Three of Us

Library Journal

07/01/2024

The wait is over for fans of Daré's who want to know what's next for Adunni, the protagonist of her debut novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice. Her latest outstanding offering, which can be read as a stand-alone, opens with 14-year-old Adunni, who's excited about being only one day away from finally starting school. But the next day brings a slew of high-stakes conflicts that not only dim her chances of obtaining the education she's always wanted but also threaten her life. Adunni lives with Tia, a married woman who is also at risk of significant loss, thanks to secrets—both her own and her dying mother's. Daré expertly tells Adunni's and Tia's stories by alternating chapters from each character's point of view. Set in rural Nigeria and bigger places there, her book illuminates traditional rituals that often lead to harmful outcomes for girls and women. She also breaks the typical prose structure by incorporating letters, distinctively presenting words of wisdom at the bottom of some of the pages, and even transcribing a talk show, all of which enhance the reading experience. VERDICT Eye-opening, evocative, exquisite; this title will resonate with Daré's fans and readers drawn to themes around women's empowerment, educational rights, choices, and cultural customs.—Jill Cox-Cordova

Product Details

BN ID:	2940160222578
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged