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*Newbery Honor Book* *Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor* A candid and fierce middle grade novel about sisterhood and sexual abuse, by two-time Newbery Honor winner and #1 New York Times best seller Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, author of The War that Saved My Life. Kirkus Prize Finalist. Boston Globe Best Book of the Year. Horn Book Fanfare Best Book of the Year. School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Booklist Best Book of the Year. Kirkus Best Book of the Year. BookPage Best Book of the Year. New York Public Library Best Book of the Year. Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year. Golden Kite Honor Book. Rise: Feminist Book Project Selection. ALSC Notable Book. Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Choices Selection. Junior Library Guild Selection. “Fighting Words is raw, it is real, it is necessary, a must-read for children and their adults–a total triumph in all ways.” —Holly Goldberg Sloan, New York Times bestselling author of Counting by 7s. Ten-year-old Della has always had her older sister, Suki: When their mom went to prison, Della had Suki. When their mom’s boyfriend took them in, Della had Suki. When that same boyfriend did something so awful they had to run fast, Della had Suki. Suki is Della’s own wolf–her protector. But who has been protecting Suki? Della might get told off for swearing at school, but she has always known how to keep quiet where it counts. Then Suki tries to kill herself, and Della’s world turns so far upside down, it feels like it’s shaking her by the ankles. Maybe she’s been quiet about the wrong things. Maybe it’s time to be loud. In this powerful novel that explodes the stigma around child sexual abuse and leavens an intense tale with compassion and humor, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley tells a story about two sisters, linked by love and trauma, who must find their own voices before they can find their way back to each other. “Della’s matter-of-fact narration manages to be as funny and charming as it is devastatingly sad. . . . This is a novel about trauma and the scars it leaves on bodies, minds and hearts. But more than that, it’s a book about resilience, strength and healing.” —New York Times Book Review. “One of the most important books ever written for kids.”—Colby Sharp of Nerdy Book Club. “One for the history books….One of the best of the year.”—Betsy Bird for A Fuse #8 Production/SLJ. “Gripping. Life-changing…I am awe-struck.”—Donna Gephart, author of Lily and Dunkin. “Compassionate, truthful, and beautiful.”—Elana K. Arnold, author of Damsel. “I am blown away. [This] may be Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s best work yet.”—Barbara Dee, author of Maybe He Just Likes You. “A book that lets [kids] know they have never been alone. And never will be.”—Kat Yeh, author of The Truth About Twinkie Pie“Meets the criteria of great children’s literature that [will] resonate with adults too.”—Bitch Media * “At once heartbreaking and hopeful.”—Kirkus (starred review) * “Honest [and] empowering…An important book for readers of all ages.”—SLJ (starred review) * “Sensitive[,] deft, and vivid.”—BCCB (starred review) * “Prepare to read furiously.”—Booklist (starred review) * “An essential, powerful mirror and window for any reader.”—PW (starred review) * “Enlightening, empowering and–yes–uplifting.”—BookPage (starred review) * “Unforgettable.”—The Horn Book (starred review)
About the Author:
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is the two-time Newbery Honor winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of several acclaimed middle grade novels, including Fighting Words, The War That Saved My Life, The War I Finally Won, and Jefferson’s Sons. She and her husband have two grown children and live with their dog, several ponies, a highly opinionated mare, and a surplus of cats on a fifty-two acre farm in Bristol, Tennessee. Visit her at kimberlybrubakerbradley.com.
Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, read by Bahni Turpin, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Reviews:
★ “Despite the horrors the sisters have endured, there is humor and warmth in this multifaceted, brave novel. Bradley creates fully developed, believable characters that readers will root for. . . . Raw and honest, this ultimately empowering novel is an important book for readers of all ages.” —SLJ (starred review)
“Rather than shielding her readers, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley arms them with Fighting Words, a compassionate, truthful, and beautiful story about the trauma of sexual abuse and the remarkable power of sisterhood.” —Elana K. Arnold, Printz Honor-winning author of Damsel
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