Even When Your Voice Shakes

January 15, 2022
A teen in Accra takes a job in a wealthy household and finds the courage to speak up after she is sexually assaulted in this contemporary novel by a noted Ghanaian author. Sixteen-year-old Amerley has dropped out of school and assumed the role of caretaker for her younger sisters due to her fisherman father's absence and mother's refusal to face their dire situation. The family is on the verge of eviction, and Amerley's sewing skills bring in some income, although her dream of becoming an apprentice seamstress is out of reach financially. Her best friend, Sheba, and boyfriend, Nikoi, are also struggling, although Nikoi offers her family a temporary reprieve on rent with funds he had saved toward her apprenticeship. Then Rosina, her mother's wealthy friend, offers to give Amerley a domestic position in her household, pay her sisters' school fees, and support Amerley's apprenticeship in two years' time. Despite Amerley's reluctance to leave home, her mother is insistent. Rosina's gated luxurious dwelling is unlike anything Amerley has ever experienced, but the opulence masks serious family issues--and she is raped by a member of the family. Against overwhelming pressure to keep silent, Amerley testifies in court, becoming a beacon of hope for countless others who have endured rape and abuse. Amerley is a strong, well-drawn character surrounded by a complex supporting cast. The narrative is rich in cultural detail and universal in its themes of resilience and integrity. A powerful story that will engage readers. (glossary) (Fiction. 13-18)

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March 1, 2022
Grades 9-12 Amerley's life is fraught with discord. Her father has left, her mother suffers from depression after the loss of a child, and she is the oldest among four girls. When a distant relative comes to offer Amerley work in exchange for wages to feed and house her family, Amerley reluctantly accepts. Although Amerley's acceptance of the job signals a move away from poverty for her family, it also creates new conflicts, particularly when a cruel man sets his sights on her. Goka's coming-of-age story perfectly showcases the modern Ghanaian setting and the impact of income inequality. While the climax of the book, in which Amerley is raped, seems a bit rushed, Goka's details and characterizations, especially of Amerley in the aftermath, make the story meaningful. Novels set in Ghana are unusual in the U.S. YA market, and it is through Goka's character-driven narrative that the reader can traverse the class lines of modern Ghana and connect with characters that offer them glimpses of the country's triumphs and flaws.

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Starred review from April 1, 2022

Gr 9 Up-Growing up in Ghana, Naa Amerley fights an uphill battle to provide for her family. They are days away from being evicted from their one-room house when distant relative Rosina Idrissu arrives to hire Amerley as her maid. While reluctant to leave home, Amerley can't ignore the potential of the money to transform their lives and fulfill her dream of becoming a seamstress. The shocking excess of the Idrissu family's lifestyle initially unmoors Amerley, but she settles in and begins saving for her own sewing machine. Then, her dreams of a better future are violently derailed when the son of her employer rapes her. Confronted by the accusation that "no one will believe you-you're just the maid," Amerley grapples with her fear of speaking out. Readers will be drawn in by Amerley's struggle to survive extreme poverty and an exploitative world of wealth. The Ghanaian setting is well-conveyed through description and metaphor, such as when Amerley reflects on her "words bubbling up, on the verge of spilling over, like when you'd boil cassava for fufu and the steam would lift the lid off." Her clear, compelling voice drives the well-paced narrative, whose main weakness is an overly neat ending. A glossary of Ga terms is included. VERDICT With a strong, resourceful protagonist, a richly observed setting, and powerful messages about gender and class inequity, this novel belongs on all shelves.-Elizabeth Giles

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