From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026

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

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

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
showing 2 of 2 topics    view all »
Other topics mentioning this book
How do you determine age-appropriateness?
By Phil · 3 posts · 159 views
last updated Oct 07, 2020 08:24AM
Current Poll
By Kristen · 157 posts · 771 views
last updated Sep 21, 2025 05:02PM

What Members Thought

The Reading Countess
Um.

Wow.

Where to begin?

I started reading this Newbery Honor awarded middle grade book about sexual abuse *(I know, I know) and had to put it down. Uncharacteristically, I couldn't finish it in one sitting. It's heavy, and real, and important-but oh, how my heart hurt for Della and her sister Suki.

This is why Fighting Words, and other books that shine a light on what happens when the doors to houses close need to be put into our kids' hands. They need to see that they are not alone. They need the
...more
Sarah
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley became one of my all-time favorite authors with her books The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won, so when I saw she had a new book coming out, there was no question about whether I was going to read it.

Before reading, I was able to hear the author speak during a FB Live interview with one of my favorite authors/literacy advocates, Colby Sharp. It was so interesting to learn how this story came to be and the great lengths to which she went to make this sto
...more
Benji Martin
Dec 28, 2020 rated it it was amazing
This is such a powerful and necessary story.
Kirsten
Another novel that requires a mature young reader. Appropriate for older elementary and middle schoolers who need to know that these stories are being told and talked about. 10-year-old Della has been sexually abused. She and her older sister, Suki, are now in foster care where they're learning all kinds of things they've never known--what it means to have someone take care of you, be aware of you and think about what might help you begin to heal. Don't get me wrong, their foster care mother is ...more
Debbie Tanner
Della is 10 and describing the story of her life. The story starts mostly at the end, but circles back to the beginning, which is when she and her big sister Suki are taken to a foster home. Suki has always taken care of Della and neither of them can bear the idea that this might change. Their new foster parent Francine is straightforward and the girls are clearly struggling with trauma, which unfolds as the story goes on. Della voice is strong and clear and compelling. I read this book in one s ...more
Dolores
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
Dawn
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
Laurie
May 29, 2021 rated it it was amazing
This is a middle grade novel. Only select 4th or 5th grade readers should dive in. The book handled the sensitive topics very well. Beautifully written.
Kayla
Mar 05, 2021 rated it really liked it
Shelves: middle-grade
So fantastic. Such heavy subject matter, but Bradley tackled the task of writing a book about child sexual abuse, suicide, and drug addiction for a middle grade audience and she. nailed. it.
As someone who has no great love for swearing, I especially loved her creative workaround for the fact that a ten-year-old who was in this kind of rough situation would almost certainly have been exposed to swearing and probably would have a few colorful words in her own vocabulary. How do you realistically w
...more
Becky
Jul 20, 2021 rated it it was amazing
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Beth
Feb 23, 2021 rated it it was amazing
AMAZING BOOK! It’s very hard to put down. Very strong young girls deal with the difficult hand they are dealt, the best way they can.
Alyson
The author did a beautiful job of showing the effects of sexual abuse while not being too detailed. Della and Suki were obviously traumatized by their experiences but there is still a feeling of hope in the book.
Caren
Sep 24, 2020 rated it did not like it
Shelves: fiction
No way in hell I’m putting this in my Elementary school library. Not appropriate for them at all.
This book would be good for kids who have unfortunately been molested, but middle school.
Karen Arendt
Jun 19, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Pat Bashir
Jun 27, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Sarah Abercrombie
Aug 28, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: 2020
Katy Marie
Sep 06, 2020 marked it as to-read
Kimberly
Sep 20, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: middle-grade-lit
Brenda
Dec 13, 2020 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Angela
Dec 03, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: middle-grade
Catherine OBrien
Jun 01, 2021 rated it really liked it
Kristen
Jan 31, 2021 rated it it was amazing
Rebecca
Jan 30, 2021 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: middle-school
Susan
Jun 04, 2021 marked it as to-read
Michelle
Jul 11, 2021 rated it really liked it
Shelves: young-people-lit
Sylena
Jul 14, 2021 marked it as to-read
Ashley
Aug 02, 2021 rated it really liked it