What do you think?
Rate this book
Going Off Script: A Young African Girl's Memoir of Resilience, Faith, and Beating the Odds
This memoir details the author's challenging upbringing in Ghana, Africa. One of two daughters to hard-working, yet faithful and hopeful parents, this story illustrates this girl's ordeals growing up impoverished in a third-world nation. As rough and uncertain as life was for her and her family in Accra, the capital city of their native country, they all retained a strong work ethic, and persevered every day, with the hope that the future would bring the blessings of a better life. A series of fortunate events brought about life-changing circumstances for the author. In America, she would face uplifting and positive experiences that would elevate her joy, faith, and belief in the goodness of people. The 'American Dream,' perhaps? Yet she would also experience the negative side of life here when some encounters with individuals complicated matters and threatened her happiness, security, and hope. Ultimately, her time in the USA would run out with the expiration of her visa. In order to stay here, how would she do it? Did she marry for love, or convenience? What were the upsides--and downsides--of retaining an occupation as a nanny? How did she get her start in social media? And what is her life like now?...
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2022
30 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 22, 2022
love it
Love it reminds of my home Jamaica , and stories also of my families background and struggles to get where we are at today
Love it reminds of my home Jamaica , and stories also of my families background and struggles to get where we are at today
September 2, 2025
A beautiful story of living with purpose !
Ruth Doeschner has written a lovely story about her life, an authentic yarn with humor, loss and love. We meet many characters along the way as she navigates her new life in a new country. Her early life in Ghana is rich in things that matter, her parents and sister. She brings the details of early poverty and the back breaking work of her devoted and loving parents. Parents who act against traditions that stifle children. Ruth’s father is loving and tender with a deep faith in God and also in his Ruth. A faith well placed. Ruth’s mom is always working as she and Ruth’s dad struggle to house and feed their family. Yet in the midst of hunger there is laughter, warmth and a loving family life. Ruth doesn’t hide hard truths and the mistakes of youth. Her strength and character are boundless as is her devotion to living life with purpose and intention. From Ghana to the U.S. Ruth takes us on so many adventures always faithful to telling her truth. I loved this coming of age story that is filled with its through-line of never giving up on one’s dreams or oneself! This book is not perfect, it’s real.
Ruth Doeschner has written a lovely story about her life, an authentic yarn with humor, loss and love. We meet many characters along the way as she navigates her new life in a new country. Her early life in Ghana is rich in things that matter, her parents and sister. She brings the details of early poverty and the back breaking work of her devoted and loving parents. Parents who act against traditions that stifle children. Ruth’s father is loving and tender with a deep faith in God and also in his Ruth. A faith well placed. Ruth’s mom is always working as she and Ruth’s dad struggle to house and feed their family. Yet in the midst of hunger there is laughter, warmth and a loving family life. Ruth doesn’t hide hard truths and the mistakes of youth. Her strength and character are boundless as is her devotion to living life with purpose and intention. From Ghana to the U.S. Ruth takes us on so many adventures always faithful to telling her truth. I loved this coming of age story that is filled with its through-line of never giving up on one’s dreams or oneself! This book is not perfect, it’s real.
December 3, 2022
A captivating memoir. I had to remind myself that this was a true story. The importance of faith runs all the way through Ruth’s writing. Once I started reading the book, I couldn’t stop.
January 3, 2024
Your past doesn’t define your future.
I saw a few videos of Ruth and her family on Facebook, liked what I saw and decided to purchase her book. My curiosity was also roused because she is originally from Ghana and I had just returned from a trip there.
This book was a very easy read, I did in two days. Ruth’s life in Ghana was one of humble beginnings but her ambitions didn’t allow her to remain this little struggling girl in Ghana.
She had dreams which came to fruition when she was told about an Exchange student program in the USA. She applied and with the help of her parents, she made it to America. Her first stop was in Michigan where she stayed with a family who referred to her as their daughter. Things happened and circumstances derailed her dream and she was misplaced. Fast forward, she got an opportunity to seek employment in New Jersey and then upstate NY. She met her husband while in NY and have two children. Her life took a 360 degree turn for the better and lives happily ever after with her husband and children.
It’s a great read about life, ambition, taking chances, following your dreams and following your heart when it comes to Love.
I saw a few videos of Ruth and her family on Facebook, liked what I saw and decided to purchase her book. My curiosity was also roused because she is originally from Ghana and I had just returned from a trip there.
This book was a very easy read, I did in two days. Ruth’s life in Ghana was one of humble beginnings but her ambitions didn’t allow her to remain this little struggling girl in Ghana.
She had dreams which came to fruition when she was told about an Exchange student program in the USA. She applied and with the help of her parents, she made it to America. Her first stop was in Michigan where she stayed with a family who referred to her as their daughter. Things happened and circumstances derailed her dream and she was misplaced. Fast forward, she got an opportunity to seek employment in New Jersey and then upstate NY. She met her husband while in NY and have two children. Her life took a 360 degree turn for the better and lives happily ever after with her husband and children.
It’s a great read about life, ambition, taking chances, following your dreams and following your heart when it comes to Love.
September 23, 2022
Granny4God
All I can say is Omgospel! This was such an amazing and awesome book. A definite page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, I pray this the first of many more from Ruth. I follow them faithfully on Social Media. I love the truthfulness they show about their lives. Kudos 👏🏾 to you Ruth you are a phenomenal woman and so blessed! Thank you for letting me get to know you and your heritage. To anyone who hasn't gotten their copy of this book, please get it, I assure you, you won't be disappointed! A must read book!
All I can say is Omgospel! This was such an amazing and awesome book. A definite page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, I pray this the first of many more from Ruth. I follow them faithfully on Social Media. I love the truthfulness they show about their lives. Kudos 👏🏾 to you Ruth you are a phenomenal woman and so blessed! Thank you for letting me get to know you and your heritage. To anyone who hasn't gotten their copy of this book, please get it, I assure you, you won't be disappointed! A must read book!
September 24, 2022
Emotional
I was very emotional reading this book cause I was seeing everything through Ruth eyes and living it as I read , I wanted to know her story after following her on Facebook so I decided to purchase her book and I'm glad that I did, I feel as though I know this family personally after reading this book , continue to be yourself and stay bless, thanks for sharing your story with us.
I was very emotional reading this book cause I was seeing everything through Ruth eyes and living it as I read , I wanted to know her story after following her on Facebook so I decided to purchase her book and I'm glad that I did, I feel as though I know this family personally after reading this book , continue to be yourself and stay bless, thanks for sharing your story with us.
October 10, 2022
The Journey of becoming of age in a foreign country
The title is correct this is such a beautiful memoir of resilience, faith and beating the odds. Ruth was candid and forthcoming. I would recommend this book to people in the throes of the adventure of becoming of age. It’s a beautiful memoir very well written. She’s a really good writer held my attention, read this book within 2days.
The title is correct this is such a beautiful memoir of resilience, faith and beating the odds. Ruth was candid and forthcoming. I would recommend this book to people in the throes of the adventure of becoming of age. It’s a beautiful memoir very well written. She’s a really good writer held my attention, read this book within 2days.
March 5, 2023
Determined and grounded
I like how strong will the author was to not allow anyone to determine what she can and cannot do. It was hard to read that her college dream had to put on hold. Her narrative on life, struggles, hard work, success and happiness is all a combination of her upbringing, true to self and determination to take risk and explore.
I enjoy looking at the family facebook stories and love the girls...Stay bless
I like how strong will the author was to not allow anyone to determine what she can and cannot do. It was hard to read that her college dream had to put on hold. Her narrative on life, struggles, hard work, success and happiness is all a combination of her upbringing, true to self and determination to take risk and explore.
I enjoy looking at the family facebook stories and love the girls...Stay bless
September 28, 2022
Good read
It kept me entertained.I wasn’t bored.Nice work Ruth.I would give it a 8 out of 10 because the author sometime repeat who the characters her in a next chapter but I guess it’s because she wants her readers to understand everything.Overall she should continue to write books.I can relate to stuff she has written.Blessings on you and your family.
It kept me entertained.I wasn’t bored.Nice work Ruth.I would give it a 8 out of 10 because the author sometime repeat who the characters her in a next chapter but I guess it’s because she wants her readers to understand everything.Overall she should continue to write books.I can relate to stuff she has written.Blessings on you and your family.
October 3, 2022
OFF SCRIPT
I loved this book! It was so easy to put myself in your shoes and live life through your words. Your ups and downs! Well written little Ruth. Bravo!!!
I loved this book! It was so easy to put myself in your shoes and live life through your words. Your ups and downs! Well written little Ruth. Bravo!!!
January 10, 2023
great read
This is a great book! Nice to see how your journey started and will continue to follow your Facebook page. Lovely family.
This is a great book! Nice to see how your journey started and will continue to follow your Facebook page. Lovely family.
November 10, 2022
Ok book
The read was ok and quite. It reads like a Novella. Overall it truly was ok. I feel Ruth you could write more. I was left wanting moree.
The read was ok and quite. It reads like a Novella. Overall it truly was ok. I feel Ruth you could write more. I was left wanting moree.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews