Again, I went for a book with a catchy title and this time I wasn't disappointed. I can't quantify the excitement I felt when I initially got a copy of this book. Something about the title and cover resonated with me, yet felt strangely unfamiliar. When I finally got the time, I was thrilled to dive into the novel and explore its pages.
The book Even When Your Voice Shakes by Ruby Yayra Goka tells the story of 16 year old Amerley, a responsible and determined girl who takes up a job as a house help for a distant relative just to support her struggling family only to be faced by sexual assault and battery from one of her aunt's children. Held bound by thoughts like “what would people think” and “would they believe me over my boss's child” she keeps this trauma a secret until she can't anymore.
This book explores heavy themes like trauma, misogyny, societal stigma, resilience, integrity and the struggle for justice in the face of overwhelming oppression. Amerley, the protagonist's journey is heartbreaking yet inspiring. Despite the trauma she endured, she remained resilient and this enabled her to slowly reclaim her voice or at least what was left of it.
Through the story, the author shed adequate light on the dark realities of sexual abuse and the ways in which societal norms and power structures can silence victims. Through her words, she exposed the cultural barriers that prevent victims from speaking out and the way the society sometimes protects the perpetrators. This was one highlight of this read for me.
During the read, it was surprising to see the protagonist faint so many times in the span of two days courtesy of the trauma she faced. In each episode of syncope, she was awake for only a few seconds and then she was off again. While this was happening, the rest of the characters were still debating whether or not she should be rushed to the hospital. This got me pissed off briefly. Someone was clearly almost losing her life and it was a debate?
Ruby Goka's eloquent writing style made this read an even more compelling one from start to finishing
However, the end of this book felt a bit rushed, particularly regarding Amerley’s healing and the aftermath of their battery. More depth should have been given to her recovery and also the society’s response to her decision to speak out. This automatically left certain subplots unresolved.
As a non-indigene, I can't tell how well this novel portrayed Ghanaian culture from the naming culture to the vast cultural settings used in the book. Nonetheless, I found this to be a difficult yet important read. Goka delivers a story that is both heartbreaking and empowering and for this, I would give the book a 3/5 rating. It would be a very thought-provoking read for both young adults and older readers particularly those interested in African literature, social justice and human rights issues.
