From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…

Fighting Words

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

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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What Members Thought

Aug 25, 2020 DaNae rated it it was amazing

Shelves: z150-in2020, family-stories, parent-dysfuntional, realistic-fiction, disability, activism, kids-at-risk, newbery-honor, bullying, brain-jarring

Oomph! This book bludgeons your heart. It serves up hard truths yet offers a pile of hope to wash them down.

14 likes · Like · see review

Sep 06, 2022 Jan rated it it was amazing

On the author's April 1, 2022 blog post she writes that her home state of Tennessee had passed the book banning bill HB1944 63-24, and that it's now on to the Senate where its approval is anticipated. This is the bill that would allow teachers to refer to their trans students by their gender assigned birth name without fear of reprisal. If enacted, it is expected to cost the state of Tennessee over 5 BILLION DOLLARS in federal education funding, but as she says, "hey, that's the price you pay to On the author's April 1, 2022 blog post she writes that her home state of Tennessee had passed the book banning bill HB1944 63-24, and that it's now on to the Senate where its approval is anticipated. This is the bill that would allow teachers to refer to their trans students by their gender assigned birth name without fear of reprisal. If enacted, it is expected to cost the state of Tennessee over 5 BILLION DOLLARS in federal education funding, but as she says, "hey, that's the price you pay to enshrine your bigotry into law." Just the day before she had received a letter from a fifth grader. The student wanted her to know how important her books were to them, (she used they/them pronouns to blur the student's identity), especially Fighting Words, where elder sister Suki attempts to take her life. They then let her know that they had attempted suicide. She notes that she deliberately wrote the book carefully to make it age-appropriate for 5th graders. The word suicide isn't in the book. It's written to discourage attempts, not encourage them. The student wanted her to know how important her words and her story were, and that they are getting help. She sat outside the post office in her car and sobbed after reading the letter.

Why is it so important that we don't ban books? It's because there is always going to be a child or a student that will need that book because of something they are experiencing in their life that they don't know how to deal with. Or maybe they think they're the only one that has ever been through what they're going through and no one else would understand. Maybe they're alone and scared and confused and feel like giving up because they're sure no one cares or understands. Maybe that book is the lifeline they need to see them through, and get them help. Suicide is the second highest cause of death, right behind cancer, for kids 10-14. LGBTQA+ kids, POC kids, abused kids, bullied kids, kids who feels alone or ostracized, or have given up hope of finding anyone else like them, all of those kids and more need books that they can find themselves in, and find hope in. Book banning takes away that right.

I know I went on kind of a rant there, but this book is important, and like so many others out there, has been challenged time and time again for its inappropriate content, or for not having age-appropriate content. It makes me mad, and also sad because there are kids who need to read books just like Fighting Words to give them hope, let them know others care, and hopefully let them feel not so alone anymore. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 10, 2020 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobooks, newbery-winners-or-honors, 2021-heavy-medal-mock-newbery

I really love Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. I love every book I’ve ever read of hers. This book is part of the mock newbery heavy medal blog. It’s a much heavier topic so more appropriate for middle school and above. A story about two girls who end up in a foster care situation to get them away from sexual abuse. The older sister, Suki who is 16, has been in a protective role for her sister, Dela who is 10 her whole life. The story is told from Dela’s point of view. Suki is her savior but I love al ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 17, 2020 Becky Barrier Nelson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: realistic-fiction, newbery-candidates-2021, foster-homes

So powerful! I read this by audio.

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 02, 2020 Angela rated it it was amazing

Shelves: middle-grade, audiobook

Difficult and excellent.

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 26, 2020 Susan Dunn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: j-fiction, cbe-nominations

Oh my goodness! This one is SO GOOD! It's overdue, but I kept it anyway b/c I couldn't bear to return without finishing it. 10-year-old Della and her 16-year-old sister, Suki have recently been placed with curmudgeonly foster mother Francine. The girls have been on their own for years, living with their mother's abusive boyfriend after their mom went to jail, and Suki has always taken it upon herself to care for Della as best she can. She finds it hard to give up that role, even when the girls a ...more

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Dec 08, 2020 Krystal rated it it was amazing

I changed my mind several times while reading this book, unsure of whether or not it is too much for kids. It’s heavy, dealing with drug abuse, sexual abuse and attempted suicide. But all these hard issues are dealt with in such an honest, hopeful way that I believe grade school children could gain a lot from it. Especially with conversation. There are hard, scary things in the world. But there is always hope and healing.

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Feb 01, 2021 Sarah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-youth-audiobooks

This is not an easy story; but Bahni Turpin is the perfect reader
The Newbery Honor book is told from 10 year old Della's point of view and author Kimberly Brubaker Bradley shares her own story at the end
I highly recommend the audio
I included it in our Books about Consent and Families Like Mine lists
Topics include consent, sexual abuse, addiction, foster care and bullying
That said, it is a mid grade title grades 6-8 ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 Marie rated it really liked it

Great story!! Unsure of who the target audience is, maybe it could help young children be brave and understand some of those damaging thoughts (it's all my fault...) ...more

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