How Far We've Come cover art

How Far We've Come

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

How Far We've Come

By: Joyce Efia Harmer
Narrated by: Joyce Efia Harmer
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

 A groundbreaking and critically-acclaimed debut novel of friendship and freedom that crosses continents and centuries, in a timeslip story exploring the legacy of slavery, selected as The Times Children's Book of the Week.

Sometime, me love to dream that me is a human, a proper one, like them white folks is.

Enslaved on a plantation in Barbados, Obah dreams of freedom. As talk of rebellion bubbles up around her in the Big House, she imagines escape. Meeting a strange boy who’s not quite of this world, she decides to put her trust in him. But Jacob is from the twenty-first century. Desperate to give Obah a better life, he takes her back with him. At first it seems like dreams really do come true – until the cracks begin to show and Obah sees that freedom comes at an unimaginable cost . . .

Hopeful and devastating, this powerful novel about equality, how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go, introduces an extraordinary new literary voice.

Praise for How Far We've Come:

‘A powerful exploration of racism, solidarity, friendship, freedom and hope’ Laura Bates

‘One of the most impressive young adult debuts of the year. This gripping novel takes a nuanced look at the legacy of slavery, injustice and inequality in today's world’ Observer

‘Both hopeful and heartbreaking, this gripping book turns a searchlight on the changing faces of injustice through time’ Guardian

‘A brilliant idea and a powerful debut’ The Times, Children’s Book of the Week

‘A seriously impressive debut. Read it now’ Irish Times

‘A powerful, ambitious, unforgettable read about freedom, rebellion, love and hope’ Liz Hyder

‘A gut punch of a debut, this book is both vital reading and a call to arms’ Laura Wood

‘Compassionate, brave, authentic, educational. Everyone should read it’ Abiola Bello©2023 Joyce Efia Harmer. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster UK. All rights reserved. Death & Dying Difficult Situations Literature & Fiction Multicultural Racism & Discrimination Discrimination Dream

Critic Reviews

'A powerful debut' The Times
All stars
Most relevant  
I absolutely loved this book. Not only is this an incredibly heartfelt, complex-but-fascinating, albeit at times heartwrenching, storyline but the narration of all the characters by the author was absolutely phenomenal. The narration alone is an incredible skill - let alone this wonderfully crafted book being her debut work! Even though I'm an adult and this is directed at YA, I was riveted and genuinely couldn't put it down... 100% a binge listen. 10/10 would recommend - and have recommended to many. Can't wait to see what this incredibly talented woman does not.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.