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

Sep 27, 2020 Jill Flanagan rated it it was amazing

"I've learned that some things are almost impossible to talk about because they're things no one wants to know.

Not even me.
...
Sometimes you've got a story you need to find the courage to tell."

Thank you Kimberly Brubaker Bradley for having the courage to tell this story. I hope it will help readers know they are not alone, and they can find their own fighting words. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Aug 22, 2020 Gina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: children-s-books

This book is in my top three of favorites for the year and I don't see it leaving. As an adult reading this story I went through a range of emotions, joy, tension, anxiety, sadness, anger, to name a few. This is a very powerful story on sexual abuse on two sisters. The story revolves around these two sisters who, one who was abused, the mother and father they lost and ending up in foster care. It touches on their feelings about how all this effects them, but others around them. A very powerful s ...more

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Dec 28, 2020 Benji Martin rated it it was amazing

This is such a powerful and necessary story.

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 21, 2021 Barbara rated it really liked it

Shelves: animals, depression, teachers, community, travel, crime, emotions, making-a-difference, trauma, humor

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Having loved her historical fiction titles, I was a bit unsure about how I'd feel about Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's venture into realistic fiction. I need not have worried because this book was just as impressive as her previous titles and it covers important topics in a straightforward way. It isn't an exaggeration to say that it just might save lives and that it functions as reassurance that someone in similar situations as the characters is not alone. Told from the perspective of ten-year-old Having loved her historical fiction titles, I was a bit unsure about how I'd feel about Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's venture into realistic fiction. I need not have worried because this book was just as impressive as her previous titles and it covers important topics in a straightforward way. It isn't an exaggeration to say that it just might save lives and that it functions as reassurance that someone in similar situations as the characters is not alone. Told from the perspective of ten-year-old Delicious Nevaeh Roberts (Della), the story begins as Della is once again settling into a new school after having to move unexpectedly. She and her older sister Suki, 16, are living with Francine in foster care. The girls had been in the care of Clifton, their mother's boyfriend, while she was incarcerated. They fled when Suki interrupted Clifton as he was encroaching on Della's personal space in an inappropriate manner, something Suki has endured for years and that becomes clearer throughout the novel. Della is strong and quick to stand up for herself, and as she spins out her story, she keeps readers in suspense but also prompts them to get ready for some of the tough material that is yet to come: "We are still on the easy parts of the story" (p. 11), she says, and yes, as might be expected, there are revelations that may shock some readers. Even though Francine might not be the most motherly type, it's clear that she cares for the two girls. It's also clear that Suki has secrets and has been emotionally and physically damaged by all those years with Clifton and that she sacrificed herself to protect Della. The extent of that sacrifice and its toll on Suki don't become clear until much later in the story, reaching its peak when Suki hurts herself. A legal case is being prepared against Clifton, and Della must decide whether to testify. She's also dealing with sexual harassment at school as Trevor, a classmate, keeps encroaching on her physical space and trying to touch her inappropriately, inspired by the bra-snapping antics of some older boys. Readers, especially future and current teachers, can learn quite a lot from the missteps and assumptions of Ms. Davonte, Della's teacher, who interprets Della's actions and remarks as acting out rather than seeing what Trevor is up to. Della as a character is brought to life perfectly in this important and yes, life-changing, novel of two sisters holding each other together against the rest of the world and its disappointments and unfairness and choosing to go forward. The fact that Della substitutes the word "snow" for the so-called "bad words" she is tempted to utter might seem jarring at first, but it also seems likely to be a coping mechanism an older sister would have suggested and makes Della all the more believable. And as a fan of Barbara O'Connor's How to Steal a Dog with its homeless characters who are living in a car, I must admit to being thrilled that it was a book that caught Della's attention and prompted her to worry about what would happen to its protagonist, Georgina. Both books, this one and that one, tackle hard topics that are challenging but necessary to talk about. Both make certain experiences that are often ignored out of discomfort more visible and help readers such as Della see that their lives and experiences matter. I recommend this one highly because of the high quality of writing and the importance of its topics. It will make some readers want to come out fighting and start standing up for their rights and personal spaces while raising the awareness of others. It shook me to the core. ...more

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Dec 28, 2020 Sheather rated it it was amazing

Shelves: childrens-books, 2020

Fighting Words is a contemporary realistic fiction about childhood trauma, including sexual abuse, written for a middle grade audience. I’m glad that this book exists and I hate the fact that it has to. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley approaches the topic with sensitivity and compassion and has created a heartbreaking story that doesn’t shy away from the horrors inflicted on children while still emphasizing that healing from trauma is possible.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the way the auth ...more

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Nov 09, 2020 Dolores rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: friendship, middle-grade, courage, bravery, sisters, audio-book, ya, relationships, strong-heroine, bullying

Della and Suki always had each other. Even though they didn't have parents, or live in a safe place. When the bad thing happens, the girls run to a friend and end up in foster care. But now that they are finally in a safe place, Suki can no longer push away the bad memories and begins to unravel. Will Della lose her beloved sister? And will she ever learn that words are better for fighting than her fists? This one is a must-read. The girls ultimately find that they have a lot of good people in t ...more

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Jun 29, 2021 Donna rated it it was amazing

Another wonderful book from Bradley. Completely different subject matter but some themes are the same: Perseverance, struggle, resilience. But there is also sexual abuse and the resulting foster care. Bradley handles the sexual abuse carefully, keeping her young audience in mind as far as how the abuse is revealed.

This is such an important book that I hope can find it's way into the hands of children who need to be heard.

The author note at the back of the book is especially poignant as well. ...more

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Feb 17, 2021 Dawn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021, juvenile, realistic-fic, caudill-bluestem-monarch

Such a tough book to read, but definitely needed in children’s literature.

Della and her older sister Suki move into foster care after escaping from an abusive home. Narrated by 10-year-old Della, the book follows the slow and complex healing process that survivors go through. An author’s note at the end includes context, advice, and study questions.

In a perfect world, elementary kids wouldn’t need a book about incarcerated parents, drug use, sexual abuse, and suicide. But the world isn’t perfect ...more

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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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Dec 12, 2020 Courtney rated it it was amazing

Shelves: juvenile, audiobooks, fiction, 2020, heavy-medal-2021

Let me start by saying that this is a book about an incredibly difficult topic. This is a book about child sexual abuse.

The thing that makes this book light enough to take in, and light enough that I would consider giving it to the right child, is the voice. Della is a survivor but that is in her past. She and her older sister Suki have entered foster care after the abuse in question. This is the story of them getting help and finally having adults take care of them appropriately.

But Della’s v ...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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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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Nov 22, 2020 Lynn L rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio-book, middle-school

really 4.5.

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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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