10yo Della and her older sister, 16yo sister Suki have recently been placed in foster care. It should have happened years ago, when their mother was incarcerated, but instead they have been living with Clifton, who is not their father. When something terrible happens, the girls run and Clifton is now in jail awaiting trial. Suki has always been there for Della, watching out for her and making sure everything was ok, but who was watching out for Suki?

Fighting Words is a hard hitting, raw story dealing with the after effects of sexual abuse. Suki has had to grow up fast - as the primary caregiver and protector of her little sister, while Della, who swears a lot (but as she is telling the story, she replaces swears with the word "snow" - brilliant ) is coming to terms with the abuse her sister experienced without learning all the details. This careful handling of a very serious - but unfortunately too common - subject, coming from the viewpoint of a 10 year old leaves a lot to be filled in by the reader; the more background knowledge you bring, the more the story blooms, and aches.

Easily one of the best books I've read this year. Not only was it compelling to the point I couldn't put it down and read it in one afternoon, but it is IMPORTANT in so many ways. It is a "Me Too" book but so much more. It is a speaking up for yourself and educating all of us on how it it not okay for "boys to be boys" and for all of us to pay attention when someone fights back. Yes, it may be bad to escalate an issue with physical violence, but we (especially educators) need to really patiently dig to determine why someone felt the need to fight back in that manner. I can see this book being "cautioned" due to content for some schools, but I have to say the author does a wonderful job of tackling a difficult subject matter very tactfully but honestly. I would equate this book with Anderson's "Speak."

This much needed mg book tackles several real life tough topics that children might encounter during their lifetime. My heart hurt for all that Della and Suki had been through in their lives when trying to live with their mom, a drug addict who is now incarcerated. Della's a resilience is what leads her to stand u for herself and in turn teachers her friends how stand up for themselves as well. Another wonderful book from Bradley!

A tale that is in equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. Having the narrator be a 10 year old girl is unique and brings a completely different dimension to this sort of story. You can't help but root for the sisters, unsure what terrible thing will be revealed next, but the message of not just surviving but thriving as well is loud and clear.

This amazing story is about Della who is 10 and has been living with Clifton, her mom's boyfriend, after her mother was sent to jail. Della's primary caretaker has been Suki, her 16 year old sister. The story unfolds a little at a time and you come to understand that something awful happened when Della and Suki left Clifton's place and it involves Clifton being in jail and a videotape. Della and Suki end up in foster care living with Francine, who tells them that she takes in foster kids for the money (they are better roommates than adults). Suki gets a job at a local grocery store so she can save enough money to get her own apartment that she and Della can share. Except that Suki is having terrible nightmares and often ends up screaming. This is an amazing story with lots of great characters and a really deft touch on a very weighty subject. I loved this one.

I received an electronic ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group through NetGalley.
Triggers - Sexual abuse, Neglect, Suicide attempt
So much to love about this book and so much grief that this is a necessary topic.
Della and Suki have lived through parental neglect until their mom was incarcerated for meth production. They end up with their mom's boyfriend who had already been abusing Suki before their mom's arrest. The book picks up when they are in a foster home and out of this situation. Della tells the entire story so readers see this world through a ten year old's eyes. She talks about the situation and slowly reveals the worse things to come. Fortunately, their foster mother pushes to get them help and Della finally sees a therapist that helps her heal. Unfortunately, it takes Suki's suicide attempt to get either of them help. This allows Della to stand up to a bully at school who is harassing all of the girls and has been getting away with it.
Sadly, there will probably be push back on this book, but also, sadly, it is the reality of life for so many of our children. The subject is handled sensitively but realistically. Readers will see themselves or someone they know in these pages. Hopefully, it will launch further dialogue and support for victims.

There is a saying that “silence is golden.” However, silence can also be harmful.

Della has kept quiet about many things in her 10 years of life. When she started school, she learned quickly that she could lose friends if she mentioned her mom’s propensity toward cooking meth. She started keeping quiet about her mom. She keeps quiet about how the adult they live with isn’t home most of the time, nor is he related to them at all. Then something happens.

Della and her sister run away to a friend’s home and the police are called. The girls go to a foster home, and in a safe environment for the first time, they start to deal with the trauma. Della learns how and when to speak up, and she starts to heal.

This book is very powerful and necessary. This is one that will help children feel not so alone, and I highly recommend purchasing it for classroom and school libraries. It’s also one that elementary and middle school (as well as pre-service) teachers should read.

I was provided a free eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

One of the most important books written. The power of words, the power in numbers, the power of talking. Della will forever live in my heart. This is a book that every parent, every educator needs to read. Powerful!
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley writes characters so deeply that you forget you are reading and are transported into their world.

Della had always had Suki to protect her. Their mom was in prison so their mom’s boyfriend took them in. Then something happened and they had to run, fast. Through it all Della relies on Suki to look out for her and protect her but no one was protecting Suki. No one realized how broken she was and how much help she needed. This is a powerful book about an ugly subject that is often left in the shadows because it is difficult to talk about. Bradley does a wonderful job of bringing it out in the open. It is a book worth reading and one I will recommend often.

I so enjoyed Bradley's War That Saved My Life duology, and this was wonderful for many of the same reasons: it's a story of siblings finding someone who might be brusque but is a far better caregiver than the person/people who were meant to have taken care of them, it deals with tough issues in a way that is clearly aimed at young readers but still direct and graceful, and has a main character who might be imperfect but is still extremely lovable and an emotionally clear narrator. I thought Fighting Words was especially strong in how it portrayed Suki with sympathy and understanding through Della's eyes while still showing when her words and actions were hurtful; how it connected the assault Della and her classmates experienced at school at the hands of a fellow classmate and the way it was excused/perpetuated by adults, and sexual assault/abuse by an adult; and in developing Della's relationship with her friend and classmate Neveah. The narrative's use of wolves was also very well done, as were the therapy scenes.

I did find the back and forth of the timeline a little confusing - maybe it's just a formatting issue with the eARC, but I'm not sure that the slight disordering of the story made it stronger? - and wished there had been more depth to some of the side characters, Teena in particular (I finished the book with the feeling that there was still something unrevealed there) but overall an excellent middle grade read that touches on a lot of difficult topics with heart and hope.

Della has had something terrible happen to her, but she's not ready to tell us right away. As she slowly reveals her story, and that of her sister, Suki, we are pulled deeper into the myriad of emotions that Della is fighting to discover and express. The pacing of this book is excellent. While the subject matter is hard, the themes of love, courage, and empowerment make it ultimately an uplifting story. The treatment of mental health issues is also fantastic, as it normalizes treatment for mental health in the same way you might be treated for any other health issue. Finally, among the messages the author has for children who have dealt with this kind of pain, one of the loudest is this: what happened is not your fault. The scene where this was emphasized brought me to tears. An intense, excellent story.

What I Loved About This Book
It covers some tough topics, including abuse, and deals with trauma from that experience. It shows how to get through that trauma and that you can find yourself after something terrible happens to you.
This book tells a story of two sisters trying to find themselves and their voices after being thrown into foster care. I loved the dynamics of the two girls and how powerful their bond was.
Short chapters-I just kept turning pages!

Della has always had her big sister, Suki to watch out for her, take care of her and be her best friend after their mother is incarcerated when Della was a toddler. Who is watching out for Suki? As the book unfolds and we discover what sent Suki and Della running from their home and into foster care with nothing but the clothes on their backs, we discover a terrible secret that Suki has been holding onto and the ramifications of two young and amazing girls who had to fend for themselves for years. A heartbreaking story of sexual abuse thoughtfully written for middle grade readers. An important story, one that at times is so incredibly difficult to read, and at others so hopeful. You will fall in love with Della and Suki.

This is a heartbreaker of a read, but it is an important read. So many important themes addressed - sexual abuse, drug addiction, foster care, sibling dynamics, dynamics with friends, how power impacts different types of relationships. There is a ton to unpack and a ton to think about when you are done reading. The book is meant to inform, but it also gives direct and concrete steps for dealing with some very difficult issues. I will be thinking about this one for a long time.

I read this book with a knot in my stomach. Very raw, very intense, and should be required reading for kids and their adults. There are so many themes covered from sexual abuse and the stigma attached to it. It addresses the after-effects of sexual abuse such as depression and suicide. It offers insight on 'no shame in coping' with mental health issues and speaking up. It also covers bullying, 'consent', and what happens in the foster care system. Very well written. All the characters have stayed with me long after reading. Additional themes covered: family, sisterhood, friendship, and love.

Della is now ten years old, and in the fourth grade. When she was five, and her older sister Suki was eleven, their meth addict mother was sent to prison and her old boyfriend stepped in to claim them. Through the five years they lived with him Suki always took care of Della. She took the lead and made sure they got away when he did something very bad to Della. Now they were living with a foster mother who seemed nice enough, Della was attending a new school, and Suki had a new job.

Soon Suki started to get angry for no reason, making Della feel as if she were a burden. Della was confused because Suki had always been there for her. When Suki tried to commit suicide it took time before Della realized her sister had been carrying a terrible burden for many years. As Della learned to put her rage into words, she became the arm of strength for Suki so that, together, they could forge ahead to reclaim their lives.

This book was very powerful, and a testament to the ravages inflicted upon innocent children caught in the crosshairs of drug addicted parents and sexual predators. It will, hopefully, give encouragement and strength for children who see themselves in the pages to get help if they are suffering the same fates as Della and Suki.

Recommended for ages 11-16.

I received a digital advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is a powerful story. The topic is very difficult to talk about. Yet Kimberly Brubaker Bradley has the gentle hand and perfect voice and tone that will resonate with readers for years to come. Della finds her words after experiencing so much trauma and also learning about her sister, Suki’s trauma. Della learns to stand up against a bully at school Which helps Suki fond her strength to find her words as well. Francine, as a foster parent, compassionate and gives back as a way to fond peace with her own past there are so many layers to this story!

Fighting Words, like other titles by this author, speaks beautifully about some of life’s ugliest truths and experiences. The story of Della and Suki is an important one to tell, and I so appreciated the way Della stood up for herself and the other girls with their classmate Trevor. The explicit explanation of consent and its importance is key! Similarly, the emphasis on owning your own story and being able to decide when and who to you tell your story is important. The characters were relatable and evoke empathy and understanding of their experiences and emotions.

Fighting Words showed that middle grade books can handle tough topics with the right amount of humor, heart, and honesty. The characters were believable and felt so real, and the topic is one that kids need to read about. So well done!

1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys is a victim of sexual abuse.
This exceptional book will be among the most important ones added to my middle school collections this year. Bradley's characterization is masterful and she tackles the toughest of subjects with honesty and seriousness and grace and hope.
One of the best books I have read this year.