By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2020. Fiction.
Della has always known she could count on her older sister Suki. Suki kept her safe when their mother was incarcerated and the two girls were left with her long haul truck driver boyfriend Clifton. Five years later, when Suki walks in on Clifton abusing Della, she acts fast to get the two of them out of the house and to safety. Now, the two sisters are in a foster home awaiting Clifton's trial and learning to live with their foster mother Francine. As Della starts to settle into their new life -- making friends, enjoying the safety of life with Francine, and standing up to a physical bully -- Suki starts unravel, being increasingly plagued by nightmares and a mental health decline that results in her attempted suicide. Now Della and Suki are left to learn to speak up and trust that others will help them, even if they aren't sure anyone wants to hear what they have to say.
This book deals with a lot of big, difficult subjects and is best for more mature readers and for young readers to read with a trusted adult. Even so, this is a remarkably raw and hopeful book that provides an essential mirror and window into horrors that are experienced by many young people. 10-year-old Della is a humorous and engaging narrator, alerting readers to the harder parts of her story while pulling no punches. Della, Suki, and Francine are likable characters that lighten up an otherwise dark story, and readers will root for Della and Suki to succeed on every page. Despite its blunt honesty, Fighting Words ultimately ends on a hopeful, even happy, note. This is a powerful and important novel.
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