I Touched the Moon

A Tale of Abduction and Redemption

By: Sila Long

Narrated by: Nene Nwoko

“You can’t bury your pain successfully although you might convince yourself that you have. There will always be a reckoning....”

I Touched the Moon—a metaphor for the extraordinary place where a young trafficked Nigerian girl finds herself as she struggles to reclaim her freedom and life after being raped, kidnapped, and forced into years of prostitution. Asha’s experiences and her indomitable drive to live and thrive unfold in unexpected ways as we enter her world. The tale is a blend of fact and fiction inspired by the horrific attack on a village in Zamfara, Nigeria—an actual event in 2011. But no matter how far Asha travels, and no matter how remarkable her journey, the weight of her past is both heavy and surreal.

©2021 Sila Long (P)2023 Sila Long

Heartbreaking because the story is real

This is a heavy subject of abduction, human trafficking and finding the courage to heal ones heart. The hardest thing to wrap my head around is that this story is based on a true story (probably multiple true stories). Its heartbreaking that these atrocities happen but in this story there is a happily ever after. Nene Nwoko does an outstanding job with the narration.

I Touch the Moon Inspires Through Adversity

I Touch the Moon grabs you from the start, even as it begins on a heavy note. It’s a story of resilience, hope, and the unexpected kindness in people. The spiritual undertone adds depth, making you feel that even in the darkest times, there is light. Though intense at first, it becomes an uplifting journey if you stick with it. Definitely one of the best reads this year—highly recommended! The story brings attention to the pain, fear, and injustice victims endure, while also highlighting the courage it takes to find hope and healing.

I couldn’t stop listening!

I love when the title of a book gives you true insight into the overall journey of the story. Sila Long provides a honest and transparent portrayal of the horrors of human trafficking. However, she does a beautiful job of balancing the sad truths with an honest and hopeful future for Asha. This story will keep you entertained from the very beginning and will stick with you long after you’ve finished listening, the plot twists and character development keep you invested throughout. Adding it to my short list of suggestions for friends and family.

Strength and Redemption

I Touched The Moon is a novel that will illicit a wide range of emotions as you journey through the life of Eve/Asha, taken from her family as a young girl and forced to endure abuse at the hands of men obsessed with her beauty but driven by despicable anterior motives. Asha relied on her intelligence and strength to survive numerous misfortunes in her life and attain her goal of education with the help of true friends along the way. The characters in this novel are brought to life by a wonderful author (Sila Long) who provides several twists and turns to keep the reader thoroughly engaged, and a superb narrator who brought authenticity to the story. Although the novel is fiction, it exposes the reader to the ugliness of human trafficking. Asha was able to achieve redemption, after suffering many hardships.

Inspirational

Intriguing story. Wonderfully told with well developed characters. The real horrors of human trafficking interwoven in this fictional account of one women’s inspiring journey. You are left with a big question until the end. Loved it.

Stunning, Haunting

This is based on the true events that occurred in Nigeria in 2011. We are introduced to Eve (aka Asha) as a young woman who had been ripped from her home, her family and friends of her village brutally murdered and herself raped. She is sold into a life of sex slavery where fear, pain, and longing for death is not more than a step away. During a deadly raid, she escapes but is blinded and placed in a home. A man she does not know visits her and begins to manipulate her back into a degrading life. Rescued by the police chief and his niece, Asha discovers her abilities and begins to experience a richer and fuller life without pain and dread. But there is still one man who could take her new life away, will he?

The author, Sila Long shares a horrifying tale of slavery, rape, murder, and suffering where hope is dead and nothing but fear and pain live and death. Her writing style is eloquent yet raw at times. She has a story to tell and she does so clearly with detailed imagery and through an internal reflection of Asha. The listener cannot help but be drawn into the very realistic details and life of Asha, hear the emotional turmoil of her experiences, and have a small glimpse into the degrading deadly, and painful world she has led. The dialogue was clear and believable as were the internal conversations. The small glimpse into the corruption of the government and police was startling and yet not unexpected. Like Asha, her listeners were on the edge of their chairs as they waited to see if Asha would be forced back into the life she had left or if she would continue to blossom in her new life.

The narrator, Nene Nwoko did an excellent job of performing this audiobook. Nene Nwoko made sure the listener experienced Asha’s journey fully with her unique voice for each character, her energy, her ability to project the needed emotions, and more. She spoke clearly, and expressively with a strong passion. I have not had the pleasure of hearing Nene Nwoko before but hope to do so again! Her cadence was smooth as was her delivery.

This is a story of survival, pain, fear, and hope. It is a story that stays with the listener well after the book ends, for days and weeks. Writing this review has been very difficult as I will remain haunted by the pain, fear, and yes, even hope for months to come.

There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook.

Unpacking the past

This book was amazing from beginning to end. This book specifically should be a tv series. Definitely a tear jerker, entertaining, and wow factor. The author was able to capture a young lady who overcame being a victim of sex trafficking. Her ability to not allow her past to dictate who she was able to become. Her character, her strength, resilience, confidence, and overall her willingness did not allow her traumas to overshadow her future endeavors.