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

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

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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

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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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Jan 31, 2021 Sharon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: a-fiction-middle, a-fiction-ya, abuse, mental-health

With no one really watching out for the minor daughters of a crack addicted mother, two sisters in East Tennessee end up living with the truck driving boyfriend of their newly convicted and imprisoned mom. The lack of oversight of the living conditions places the teenage sister in the position of being sexually assaulted on a regular basis in order to protect her younger sister. The crisis comes to a head with the older sister being able to snap a quick photo and the neighbor calling the police. ...more

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Jan 16, 2021 Brandi Rae Fong added it

Shelves: middle-grade, juvenile-fiction

My heart aches for these characters, but this line in many ways really sums up why we need childrens books like this:

" 'I was glad, you know, to read the book. To know it didn't only happen to me.' ", page 121. ...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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May 10, 2021 Kimberly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adolescent-literature

What a difficult but powerful book. The author tackles sexual abuse, foster care, parental imprisonment, consent, and suicide all while keeping it accessible for middle grade readers. It’s heavy but ultimately hopeful and packs in so many important topics parents should be discussing with their child. It is a must read for teachers and parents. I am glad this book will be available in my classroom, but a little uncertain about how to approach the book talk. I have no doubt that there are student ...more

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Jan 09, 2021 Christine rated it it was amazing

So well done!

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Mar 05, 2021 Becky rated it really liked it

I really loved the characters. So much hard stuff in the book: parent with a drug addiction, a parent in prison, sexual abuse, suicide, and foster care. I thought the book was well done- not too heavy and descriptive so that is good for younger readers - though I think this is best for middle school and up.

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Feb 06, 2021 Lorna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: realistic-fiction, childrens, newbery-medal

Reading this book made me incredibly sad. I guess that's what good books are supposed to do. It was very well written. I loved what the author did with the ending. ...more

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