Fighting Words

 Della and her older sister Suki have lived with Clifton for years, ever since their mother went to prison for making meth.  Clifton isn't their dad, but he was their mom's boyfriend.  Life with him wasn't good, but at least they were together.  He always warned Suki they would be separated if she ever told.

But one night Suki came home to find Clifton doing something he definitely should not be doing with Della, so they ran.

Now they are in foster care with Francine who is gruff and kind of ugly, but Della finds her no-nonsense, unflappable approach to life kind of comforting.  Things should be getting better, but they aren't.  Della's teacher hates her and judges her every action.  Suki is enjoying her new job, but it's not going to be enough to get custody of Della when she turns eighteen.

One night, their former friend and neighbor shows up, and just the sight of her dredges everything to the surface for Suki.  Suki has always been there for Della to love her and keep her safe, but now she's acting strange and having nightmares.  Della doesn't know the whole truth about life with Clifton, but now that they are safe, everything is coming to the surface for Suki, and it may be more than she can live with.  

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's newest book is inspired by her own experiences with childhood sexual abuse, and she emphasizes the importance of believing kids and destigmatizing this kind of trauma.  This is a book any adult who works with children should read and one that will appeal to many young readers.  Della is ten in this book, but I would be cautious with younger or more sensitive readers.  Child sexual abuse is a real issue, and I firmly believe it helps some survivors to see that other people have dealt with the same issues, but it is still a sensitive issue.

I appreciate that even though there are some truly terrible adults in this book, Della also finds many adults who want to help her like Francine, her therapist, the principal at her school, and even a woman from the grocery store where Suki works.  It's important for children who have been abused to know there are people they can trust.  The issue of consent is also deftly woven into the story through a subplot about a boy who tries to snap girls' bras.  Della even says it's not the same as what Clifton did, but it gives her a similar feeling.  

Suki's suicide attempt is difficult to read and not gratuitous in any way.  Once she has time to relax a little, the trauma of the past years comes back to her, and Brubaker Bradley illustrates the importance of therapy with both sisters.

This is more than just an "issue" book.  It is beautifully written, and Della feels like a real person with plenty of spunk and personality despite the terrible things people have done to her.  There were even a couple of moments when I laughed out loud at her narration.  Highly recommended.