Inside every girl is a louding voice.

A voice to speak up for herself, for the girls who came before her, and for all those who will follow.

As a third wife in a small Nigerian village, fourteen-year-old Adunni is expected to fade into silence.

But Adunni will not keep quiet. She's smart, funny and curious, with an infectiously joyful spirit. And despite adversity awaiting her at every turn, she's set on getting an education, no matter the cost.

Determined not to settle for her fate, Adunni embarks on a journey from her village to the wealthy enclaves of Lagos. A journey that will change her life and, if you listen closely, possibly yours . . .

When this was featured on the BBC's Between the Covers the actress who had narrated the audiobook version read an extract in a "Nigerian English" accent. It took a little while for me to "get my ear in" when reading from the book.

It's a good job that Nigerians are reported as being optimistic because Adunni's life takes a series of unexpected turns that bring her ever lower social status and yet she never loses heart. Despite the superstition and social injustice enough small people do her sufficiently small kindnesses that maybe she can escape.

left in Marleen's minibieb