Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Fighting Words
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
A candid and fierce middle grade novel about sisterhood and sexual abuse, by Newbery Honor-winner and #1 New York Times best seller Kimberly Brubaker Bradley "Sometimes you've got a story you need to find the courage to tell." Ten-tear-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. Loving, loyal, and fierce, 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's always known how to keep quiet where it counts. Then Suki tries to commit suicide, and Della's world turns so far upside down, it feels like it's shaking her by the ankles. Maybe it's time to speak up. Maybe she's been quiet about the wrong things. Maybe it's time to be loud about the right ones. In this powerful page-turner that explodes the stigma around child sexual abuse and leavens an intense tale with kid-speed compassion, insight, and levity, 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.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
LiteraryinPA
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

I finished this a couple days ago and felt it was very powerful. A raw look at 2 sisters in the foster care system, the book is still geared toward a middle grade audience. The narrator is 10, though her life experiences have caused her to grow up faster than most her age.

Kayla.Adriena Hey there did the LMPBC books show up? 😋 2y
LiteraryinPA @Kayla.Adriena Yes they did! Thanks so much and I‘m sorry for not posting about it! 2y
Kayla.Adriena @LiteraryinLawrence that's okay I just wanted to make sure I didn't need to track it 2y
68 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Kshakal
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

A difficult subject but done in such a tender and loving way… a story of two sisters and their path from abuse to healing… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

review
megnews
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley has a knack for bringing children‘s voices to life and make you feel like characters are real people. This is such an important book on a very important topic.
TW: CSA
#MiddleGradeMay

44 likes1 stack add
review
BookishTrish
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

Absolutisme riveting middle grade novel about the aftermath of abuse and the path to healing.

47 likes1 stack add
review
DebbieGrillo
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

This is Della's story. Della's mom is an addict who has been incarcerated since Della was five. Della is 11 now and just entering foster care with her 16 year-old sister Suki. They were living with their mom's abusive, long-haul trucker, boyfriend, who left them alone all week. Now that they are in a safe environment they are beginning the process of healing. This important story should be in every classroom from 5th to 12th grade.

review
MelKelsey
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

Book 14 My first five star read of 2022. Fighting Words is the best I've read of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's work. It's children's literature without simplistic language, relationships, or emotions. It's about childhood sexual abuse and foster care, about which the author writes from personal experience. It's not at all vulgar, and it has a very hopeful message about working together to fight against these atrocities. Highly recommend.

23 likes1 stack add
review
Daisey
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

I don‘t cry easily when reading, but this book had me sobbing more than once. It is a book about very tough topics including drug addiction, sexual abuse, and suicide. However, it is written a truly masterful way that addresses those topics more appropriately for middle grade readers than anything else I‘ve read touching on those topics.

I may not say snow or snowflakes without thinking of this book for a long time. ❄️

#TRS2021 #MiddleGrade

64 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
mandarchy
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

This is what I did today. I couldn't put it down. Five stars. It was so snowing good. And powerful. #tomorrowismybestday #ampersand #endthestigma

review
GirlNamedJesse
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

Della‘s voice will propel you through this story at incredible speed. I couldn‘t not read it, knowing she had more to tell me. It is impressive that a book dealing with such intense topics can be rendered in a way that is for ten year olds. But Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is an amazing author who has created a haven, a door, a window, a starting point for anyone who needs one. 💜

review
Tracey3
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

Wow! This is an amazing and important book about neglect, sexual abuse, and a ten-year old trying to process what has happened to her and her family while dealing with foster care and school. I‘m paraphrasing but one of the characters in this books says it helped her to read a book with characters like her in it. This is one of those books. Trigger warning for abuse and suicide. I just wanted to hug Della and her sister, Suki.

review
licia.reads
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

I appreciate authors that can write authentic stories dealing with heavy topics for young readers. I put off reading this story because of the subject matter, and for good reason. At times this story is heartbreaking; I cried more than once while reading it. But it is also funny, sweet, and engaging from start to finish. So far, it is the best middle-grade book I‘ve read this year.

#middlegrade #abuse #trauma #realisticfiction

quote
BucklingBookshelves
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
This post contains spoilers
show me
post image

Pulling out my book darts before I return to the library, I found one more passage I wanted to share. The biggest strength of this story was the bond & love between these two sisters. I‘m glad they had each other. And I think that‘s how most people survive trauma, by having someone who loves them through it all. And my heart breaks for anyone who doesn‘t feel they have that. 💔

#buddyread @smilingshelves So when shall we tackle our last one?!

smilingshelves I just realized I never responded to your post! Sorry! I totally agree about how the sisters made this story. What a blessing to have someone with such a tenacious love. 3y
smilingshelves I did look at the library for our last book, but they didn't have it. I'll need to request it through ILL. We've got a vacation coming up soon and I don't want the book to arrive while we're gone. Is the end of the month okay? 3y
BucklingBookshelves @smilingshelves definitely! We are going on vacation soon as well. I have my Kindle copy, so just keep me posted whenever you are ready. Hard to believe it‘s the last one for the year! 📚 3y
smilingshelves We've been surprisingly efficient! It's nice to have something like this to look forward to. 😊 3y
BucklingBookshelves @smilingshelves completely agree! And there were quite a few books this year too 😊 3y
2 likes5 comments
quote
smilingshelves
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
This post contains spoilers
show me
post image

So, so obvious when she says it like that. But how often do we think about it like that? That's certainly not the prevalent view in our culture, although I know there are efforts being made to change that. A brain is not as easily understood or treated as a broken bone, but it is treatable!
#buddyread @BucklingBookshelves

BucklingBookshelves Mental health is such a complex issue. And so much is easy to overlook until it‘s a full blown crisis. I‘m glad there has been some improvement, but there is a long way to go. 3y
2 likes1 comment
quote
smilingshelves
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
This post contains spoilers
show me
post image

God bless Nevaeh! What a good friend she was through this whole book. Amazingly tuned in to what Della needs. How do I raise my kids to be this compassionate of a friend?? #buddyread
@BucklingBookshelves

BucklingBookshelves Oh, I know that feeling! We are with them (almost) all the time, at least when they are little, so we see the sweet/kind moments, but we also see all the squabbles and bickering and wonder where we are going wrong (or i do, anyway!) Normal developmental stages in most cases and things they need to learn/practice/work at, but I agree, I want to foster the kindness & compassion and it can feel like a tall order in the everyday thick of parenting. (edited) 3y
smilingshelves @BucklingBookshelves Right? I want to be a fly on the wall in my son's preschool classroom to see how he treats his classmates, because I know how he treats his sister! (Which, to be fair, is wonderful most of the time - but certainly not always!) Right now we're working with him on actually thinking about someone else's needs and wants other than his own. Developmentally appropriate, probably. But easy to despair as a parent! (edited) 3y
BucklingBookshelves I always say my kids are the best of friends AND they fight like cats and dogs. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Little sister wants to do EVERYTHING like her big brother so sometimes it can be a bit much to get along all the time. My mom says my brother & I didn‘t fight as much (almost identical age gap), but it was a different dynamic having the girl be the older one. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 3y
2 likes3 comments
quote
BucklingBookshelves
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
This post contains spoilers
show me
post image

Pg 45 #buddyread This is striking me since we are deciding public vs. homeschool next year… but I think this is where compulsory schooling fails in its true aims… intended to ensure an education to all & that kids don‘t fall through the cracks, especially if home is hard. But how does placing a child suffering trauma in a new school for 3 days help her? To fulfill the attendance requirement? She‘s in no position to learn. It‘s checking a box.

BucklingBookshelves @smilingshelves on page 69 there‘s another quote, that reinforces this when she says “School was just a place I had to go.” 3y
smilingshelves For sure the three days is ridiculous! Just a place to get rid of her for a few hours. I think once she's with Francine, though, there would be the benefit of a routine and getting some normality. On the other hand, I can't imagine sitting there trying to do a math worksheet with everything else going on in her head. 3y
3 likes2 comments
quote
BucklingBookshelves
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
This post contains spoilers
show me
post image

Pg 44 #buddyread

This is so true. It‘s understandable that it is hard to hear, but that keeps far too many kids alone and without help. I don‘t know how to make it any easier, but we all need to know the signs/red flags and be willing to listen. It‘s far more common than people think, and more adults need to be aware, not just those who have lived through something similar.

BucklingBookshelves @smilingshelves Pg 90 hits on this same concept from a different angle and highlights another challenge… “Sometimes people know too much. You can‘t forget things when you‘re around them. I just can‘t stand it. She looks at me different now.” 😔 No matter how much helps a kid needs, no one wants to feel like this either. (edited) 3y
smilingshelves I marked this quote, too. It was something I had to keep in mind as I struggled to pick up this book every day. I didn't even want to read about it, yet this is people's - kids! - everyday lives. I also couldn't believe the stats of how many people this affects, which were mentioned later in the book. Jaw-dropping. 3y
BucklingBookshelves @smilingshelves I wish I could say I found those stats shocking. Not any less heartbreaking, though. 💔 3y
3 likes3 comments
quote
smilingshelves
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image

I was a teacher for ten years. It breaks my heart to think about all the little cries for help that I surely missed. Hopefully, none of my students went through what Della is, but I know there must have been things like this that I missed. (Page 11) #buddyread
@BucklingBookshelves

BucklingBookshelves It‘s easy from the reader‘s perspective to fault the teacher for not noticing better... but I also feel like the best and most caring teachers WILL miss things because of the nature of a how a large class works. In this case, it seems the kids did want the teacher to notice. But in many cases kids actually don‘t want the teacher to notice bc they don‘t want to stand out or fear making things worse, which also happens at other times in this book. 3y
smilingshelves @BucklingBookshelves Both are probably true, in different situations. I'll keep an eye out for that as I continue to read. Every kid should have someone who notices, whether they want them to or not. Which is one of the reasons why reading middle grade as an adult is so important! Eleven pages in, and this book is already doing its job! 3y
14 likes1 stack add2 comments
quote
BucklingBookshelves
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image

Let‘s just start riiiight at the beginning... this dedication is key, I think. We know from the jacket flap this is not your average middle grade book. We WANT the tough things we know are coming to be a foreign idea to all 10-year olds (and kids both younger & older), but the heartbreaking truth is that far too many kids need stories like this one. It won‘t be easy, but I‘m sure by the end I‘ll be glad this book was written. #buddyread

smilingshelves You're right. I think that gets to the heart and purpose of this story right there. 3y
7 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
smilingshelves
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image

Got it, @BucklingBookshelves ! I've got to finish my book club book by Friday. 😬 Maybe we could start this weekend?
#buddyread

BucklingBookshelves Sounds like a plan! 3y
BucklingBookshelves I got started today! So I think this is going to be a bit like All Thirteen for me.... It‘s a very good book so far, but I can tell I‘m not going to want to linger in the middle of such a difficult story. I‘m already halfway through & have a bunch of quotes bookmarked to discuss, so I‘ll make sure to mark as spoilers and follow your lead for pacing out our discussion. 🙂 3y
smilingshelves @BucklingBookshelves Wow! I can understand the not lingering thing. Read as fast as you like. I'll be starting tomorrow, apparently, because I just realized I left mine upstairs where the kids are sleeping, and I'm not sneaking back up! 😄 Post whenever, and I'll join in as I can! 3y
BucklingBookshelves @smilingshelves I hate when I do that! I told myself I‘d just get a couple chapters in because I knew it would be a tough one and didn‘t want the weekend to get away without me even starting... and then I was like, nope, can‘t stop now. 😬 I don‘t seem to have a middle speed with this year‘s books - I‘m either way ahead or way behind! 😆🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️ 3y
8 likes4 comments
blurb
BucklingBookshelves
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image

I probably shouldn‘t rely on my snail mail skills to plan our next #buddyread @smilingshelves 😆

Only 2 left & I have access to both. Do we want to do the heavier read first or save it for last? I‘ll let you choose! Aim for sometime in June, maybe? Let me know what you think! 📚

smilingshelves Technology has its uses. 😄 Let's get Fighting Words over with. It looks like as of now, it's available at the big library I'm visiting next week. So I'll pick it up then and we can start whenever! 3y
7 likes2 comments
review
Professional_Book_Dragon
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

If you need to cry here is the book for you. It was so good and so Heart breaking. This is probably a book for middle schoolers not younger just because it deals with sexual abuse.

review
LaurenMags
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

A sad but excellent middle grade book. This novel follows a 10 year old girl named Della who is in foster care with her older sister Suki. They never knew their father and their mother is in jail for blowing up a hotel while cooking meth. The story also deals with sexual assault and suicide.

blurb
Peaceful_Reader
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image

I‘m partway through this engaging story about two sisters who‘ve had a tough life with their incarcerated mother and are left with her boyfriend after the fact. #fostercare #sisters #family

9 likes2 stack adds
review
Onceuponatime
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

Littens. This books is So. Powerful. A heartbreaking and empowering and hopeful story of two young sisters who are sexual abuse survivors. The author states that it happened to her, and her writing is so authentic. I love that the characters process what happened to them in their therapy sessions, and they give readers practical language to use regarding consent. So many stars for this book. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

36 likes1 stack add
review
Nebklvr
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

This was the most inspirational story about surviving sexual abuse I have ever read. The sisters in this story shared a deep love and supported each other completely.

review
LittleMummyMe
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

What an important book!

Fighting words is published in Australia today. Grab a copy from your local book retailer.

https://littlemummymebookchat.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/fighting-words-by-kimberl...

#fightingwords #netgalley #littlemummymebookchat

review
SarahBradley
Fighting Words | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
post image
Pickpick

This book broke me. And then restored me. It‘s a real, raw, and wrenching story of two sisters who endured unthinkable childhoods, who must learn to find their voices, tell their stories, and learn how to heal. While their journey is heartbreaking, I‘m a better person for knowing them through Bradley's powerful narrative. Suki and Della are indelible and sobering images of abused children among us. Ones we must continue to seek and support.

9 likes1 stack add