In spite of the fact that Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is the author of a couple of titles that Compass Book Ratings’ reviewers have loved (The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won), when the publisher sent this book for review there were no takers from the review team. One look at the thematic matter (in a year of already depressing events: 2020 pandemic) was enough to ward off anyone with a heart. Fighting Words then was named a 2021 Newbery Honor book and since Compass Book Ratings is committed to having the Newbery Titles in our review database someone had to take one for the team.

Told in first person by 10-year-old Della, the book opens when Della and her sister are in a place of relative safety. This is a critical decision of many that the author made that make this book even feasible for a young readership. Through a series of recollections, the reader slowly learns what happened to Della and her sister and the backstory is filled in. No punches are pulled on the topic of sexual assault of a venerable child by an adult, and it is the raw honesty and direct talk that give power to the book; oddly, this book is crafted in a manner age-appropriate for a younger audience (although the target age group of 10+ does seem a little on the young side for many readers, thus the age recommendation of 12+). To temper the heart-break along the way is a new friend, an old friend, Francine (foster mom), individuals getting the help they need, and Della just growing by leaps and bounds. Is this book a painful read? Without a doubt, but the juice is worth the squeeze with a powerful message of hope, healing, and empowerment.

Is this a great book? Absolutely. Is it a book that could change someone’s life? Yes. Is it a book that everyone should read? Not necessarily. This really presented a challenge in the overall star rating. Normally on our scale a 5 star is an unequivocal “Everyone should read this book” and a 4 star rating is “This is a good book.” Fighting Words is an important book on a crucial topic and it might make a saving difference in the hands of the right child. The author notes at the end and discussion questions should be considered key to the interpretation of the novel. I cannot think of a tougher topic to tackle and I can’t think of a better approach than the one the author took.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Note: The character does use the word “snow” wherever she would have used a profanity.

Violence/Gore: Verbal threats, including emotional abuse; person burns other characters’ possessions; 10 year old gets a tattoo and it is painful; boy pinches girl’s backs at school checking for bra (happens multiple times); meth lab blows up a building; character punches another character at school; report of in the past punching someone at school; character attempts suicide by stabbing knife into wrist in front of younger sibling resulting in serious injury and jeopardy of life, mention of spurting blood and subsequent surgeries; phone stomped on by an adult; children flee angry adult; 1 page detailed description of a man pulling down the pajama bottoms of a 10-year-old female and he begins to touch and sexually assault the child when he is interrupted; it becomes clear through implications, small comments and actions, and dialogue throughout the book that a female child has been sexually assaulted for years by a man who control her physically and emotional through threats–specific details of the actions are not described, but it is nonetheless very upsetting to read.

Sex/Nudity: 1 page detailed description of a man pulling down the pajama bottoms of a 10-year-old female and he begins to touch and sexually assault the child when he is interrupted; it becomes clear through implications, small comments and actions, and dialogue throughout the book that a female child has been sexually assaulted for years by a man who control her physically and emotional through threats–specific details of the actions are not described, but it is nonetheless very upsetting to read; discussion about consent and what that means.

Mature Subject Matter:

Sexual assault of minors, suicide (attempt), foster care, homelessness, meth addiction, incarceration of a parent, bullying, poverty, minors get tattoos, emotional abuse, neglect (children), children out of wedlock (children don’t know their father’s identity),

Alcohol/Drug Use:

Adult smokes; parent is a meth addict; parent cooks meth; parent is incarcerated on drug charges; medication appropriately prescribed to teenager by counselor.