Candice Iloh

Written in verse, I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by the author Candice Iloh, making it all the more special.

A very short read/listen, it splices together snippets of the life of Ada, the main character, from when they were a little girl to the time they are a first semester first year at an HBCU far away from their hometown. This method paints a picture about how Ada becomes Ada.

It was a bit opened ended. I wanted more about Ada and the decisions made in the last chapter.… (mere)

Ada knows how to maintain her façade as the ideal child; though, she is willfully ignorant of her own wants, needs, and desires. Collage provides the opportunity to explore her interests, origins, beliefs, and traumas. Development of Ada’s relationships promotes the confidence needed for self- acceptance.

Author and narrator Candice Iloh depicts Ada’s trials through poetry. Candice depicts bewilderment just as experienced, in fragments that need to be pieced together with gaps missing. This allows the reader to make many inferences and Ada more relatable. Every Body Looking touches on topics of: sexuality, drug abuse, sexual assault, religion, heritage, and ethnicity.… (mere)