Review: "Fighting Words," by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ten-year-old Della is not shy with using the fight she's got in her. She is one tough little girl. She has to be. When she was only five years old, her mother literally blew up the motel room they were in because she was cooking meth. Her mother is now incarcerated. But for five years, Della and her older sister Suki had been living with her mother's boyfriend, Clifton. He is a bad bad man. Suki caught him assaulting Della and was able to use the incident as evidence to get away from Clifton. Now the girls are staying with a foster mom, Francine, and Suki is coming to terms with the trauma that Clifton imposed on her during the five years they lived with him. When Suki's trauma hits her full force, Della is left figuring out how to be brave and use fighting words rather than actual fighting to make a difference and stand up for herself and her sister.

Despite having a ten-year-old protagonist, the book didn't feel too young for my middle school students. It's been announced to be on our state Intermediate book list for 2021-2022, and I think it will definitely hit home with some kids, either dealing with their own trauma or opening their eyes to what some kids go through. It's not their fault and I'm glad there is a character like Della to tell it like it is.

Mrs. Denney's Rating: ****

#review #realisticfiction #assault #abuse #trauma #school #family #sisters