From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026

Fighting Words
by
Start date
October 1, 2020
Finish date
October 31, 2020
Discussion
Newbery 2021

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Showing 2 of 19 topics — 526 comments total
+ Newbery 2021
* 2021 ALA Newbery Awards
By Kristen · 23 posts · 244 views
last updated Mar 30, 2021 07:20PM
* 2021 Mock Newbery Winning Selections
By Kristen · 14 posts · 266 views
last updated Feb 16, 2021 02:44PM
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How do you determine age-appropriateness?
By Phil · 3 posts · 159 views
last updated Oct 07, 2020 08:24AM
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last updated Sep 21, 2025 05:02PM

What Members Thought

Mary Lee
Aug 04, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: family, 2020
Such an important book. So thankful that Kimberly Brubaker Bradley made this accessible for younger readers. Della and Suki are characters that will be with me for a long time. If you have a daughter, make sure she reads this.

From the acknowledgements: "...a novel for ten-year-olds featuring sexual assault, a suicide attempt, foster care, homelessness, meth addiction, and eighty-six uses of the word snow." (She uses "snow" as a replacement for curses.)

This was a work of heart for Bradley. It is
...more
Shari (Shira)
Jun 05, 2020 rated it really liked it
Shelves: childrensbooks
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Bradley puts the "real" in realistic fiction. Real with a capital R. I have read other stories about children in foster care (One for the Murphys, The Great Gilly Hopkins) but none of them were as rang as true or was so painfully honest. I think of all of the "Dellas" who were in my classes. I was not ever able to give them a book that reflected their experiences. Now there is one. I hope someone gives it to them. I am grateful ...more
Dest
I meant to read just the first few chapters last night, but I stayed up until 3 a.m. finishing the whole book. Obviously this takes on a very difficult topic -- sexual abuse of children -- but it does so in a sensitive and balanced way. By "balanced" I mean that this book has funny and joyful parts. Readers will see that trauma has a huge impact on Della and Suki's lives, but it doesn't define them.

I also want to say that the last page of this book is perfect.
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CLM
Mar 29, 2020 rated it really liked it
Beautifully written but painful to read. It wasn't until my Collection Development class discussed censorship and challenged books that I decided I wanted to write about this book. At first, I was disappointed the author hadn't written another rich historical novel but, upon reflection, I understand how important it was for her to write this book about sisters surviving abuse - together.

Here is a link to my review: https://tinyurl.com/y6ebve6u
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Dan
Jan 10, 2021 rated it it was amazing
Is it just me, or is this one incredible year for middle grade fiction?! I wish the committees and anyone gathering to discuss favorite books of the year a joyous time.

Fighting Words was outstanding!

Kristy
Jan 10, 2021 rated it it was amazing
Newbery countdown. I am currently catching up with the books considered strongly in contention for winning the Newbery medal.

I avoided reading this for a while because I knew it was about child sexual abuse and that it would be hard. But honestly now that Ive read it, I realized something important. It was hard—but not in the way that I expected.

Our ten year old main character Della, tells the story in her unforgettable voice that draws you in immediately with its realness, it’s endearing toug
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Janice
Nov 08, 2020 rated it it was amazing
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Leslie
Feb 16, 2021 rated it really liked it
I love Della's voice and the beautiful way Bradley spun the story of Della, Suki and the people that support them. I believe this is a story that needs to be very carefully and gently placed in children's hands. ...more
Melinda Caldwell
Jan 09, 2021 rated it it was amazing
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Margo Jantzi
Apr 16, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Middle grade readers will find the words of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley as balm for souls who need healing from trauma. Heavy topics such as sexual abuse, mental health, and drug addiction are handled with wisdom and sensitivity. This is a book that many of our foster children could have benefited from reading. Thank you to Kimberley Brubaker Bradley for writing a book that many of our hurting students need at this time.
Alison
Sep 22, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Beautiful story of Della - a young girl that is finding her way and learning how to deal with the anger of abandonment. She is in a new foster home and feels on display in her classroom so she does what she thinks is best..... acts out....but was it!? Love the character development of Della and her sister. The foster mother really helped develop the story as well. Very well done!
Susan
Nov 23, 2020 rated it it was amazing
I listened to this book, and the narrator was fantastic. It helped that the book was fantastic. Wow. The author dealt with so many difficult subjects in a sensitive, realistic way.
Cathy
Mar 22, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Wow! Powerful book dealing with a difficult subject. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is known for her excellent historical fiction, but Fighting Words proves she is just as good as realistic fiction. This will be an important book for some young person you know.
Cheryl Meibos
Jun 19, 2021 rated it really liked it
A very difficult but important topic. For older students.
Amanda
Nov 11, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Snowing favorite. SNOWING!
Maria
Nov 30, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Mrs. Chatel
Oct 10, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: 2020-pub
Sara
Mar 05, 2021 rated it it was amazing
Abby
Jul 10, 2020 marked it as to-read
Melanie Halloran Dyer
Sep 04, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Lorisse
Mar 01, 2021 rated it it was amazing
Cat
Oct 17, 2020 rated it really liked it
Karen
Nov 21, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Jean
Dec 11, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: newbery-honor
Ann-Marie
Dec 31, 2020 rated it really liked it
Adriel
Jan 12, 2021 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: j-fiction
Edith
Jan 26, 2021 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: mg-novels
Rebecca
Feb 09, 2021 rated it really liked it
Nefret
Mar 20, 2021 rated it really liked it
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