By: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Rate: Very good
Della, a young ten-year-old girl who fails school and throws swear words around, needs her older sister, Suki. Even after their mother is incarcerated and their mother’s boyfriend sexually abuses Della, Suki’s always been there, glowing and protecting her.
Suki is her star, her wolf protector, her shield, her everything. Since Della was a baby, Suki’s always been there for her, defending her and sheltering her.
But has anyone been there for Suki all these years?
Then, one fateful night, Suki attempts suicide, and Della is terrified and horrified. At that time, she finally realizes Suki’s most deepest secret, what makes her wake up in the middle of the night, screaming.
Maybe, it’s her turn to speak up and support her beloved sister.
Fighting Words is Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s newest novel–and one of her best ones yet, in my opinion. It deserves five stars.
Bradley uses her words vividly, and readers are quickly sucked into the story the moment we are introduced to Della. I can see each scene clearly in my mind. An important part of her writing that I highly enjoyed is how she revealed information about Della’s past bit by bit, piece by piece. It is unknown until some time about how her mother is incarcerated, or who Clifton is. The book actually begins at the end–the story is recalled by Della and we realize what the beginning scene is about after we know Della and Suki’s story.
Overall, a chief part of rating a book is its plot. I was hooked all throughout the story to keep reading, and it was action packed. I was never disappointed by what happened in the book, from beginning to end.
Besides, the characters were made very well, too. All three main characters have their own, unique personalities and difficulties, and they all change throughout the story–but of course, no spoilers here.
There are also amazing themes present in the book. Suki and Della need each other, and so they support one another in the story, showing the theme of the bond of sisters. Both characters are extraordinarily brave–you will have to read the book to find out more about that.
This book also very accurately describes the horrors of sexual abusement. It can definitely persuade people to stop it, and it goes deep into the troubles and misery of a overwhelming amount of children in America–including the author herself. Yes, Bradley mentions in the author’s note that it happened to her. This is another reason I love this book. Since the author was also sexually abused, she can put more raw feeling into the story and makes it extremely touching.
We are lucky to have such a peaceful and safe childhood. Let us be grateful, and let us spend a few moments to sympathize with all the children like Della in the world. Fighting Words teaches us to never forget the people all over the world who are sexually assaulted. It contains writing skill, intense feeling, and perfect themes. What a marvelous book.
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