The Girl with the Louding Voice

Throughout the novel, Adunni dreams of educating herself so that she can have a “louding voice,” yet in many ways, she has potential for using this voice all along. What is a louding voice, and how does one cultivate such a voice? Consider the following points as you develop your ideas:

• What qualities does a louding voice require?
• Who or what has instilled Adunni’s desire for a louding voice, and why?
• Many characters have authority and give commands. Do they each have a louding voice? Why or why not?
• To what extent is education necessary but insufficient for developing a louding voice, and how does Adunni learn this truth?
• How does Adunni use her louding voice? What are the results, and what might this show about an individual’s ability to connect truth and power?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may benefit from written copies of the questions to refer to while discussing. Students may also benefit from previewing questions ahead of time to prepare in-depth answers and refer more directly to the text. Group or personal notetaking may increase information retention, though students may appreciate the opportunity to prepare materials in pairs, which may include creating a list of related characters and events prior to addressing bulleted points.