Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley was chosen for our book of the month. Already a finalist for a Kirkus Prize and getting starred reviews from critics, could Fighting Words win a Newbery award?

http://richiespicks.pbworks.com/FIGHT...

Absolutely! Ms. Bradley has accomplished something extraordinary and very possibly life-saving here. Child sexual abuse is very real and probably more common than we think and yet, adults are hesitant to address the issue with younger children. In Fighting Words, we have a winning narrator with a salty mouth ease into the trauma she has experienced in her young life. I've read three mg novels this year that center around child sexual abuse and they are all brave and important. Fighting Words is distinguished.

Brenda wrote: "Absolutely! Ms. Bradley has accomplished something extraordinary and very possibly life-saving here. Child sexual abuse is very real and probably more common than we think and yet, adults are hesit..."

What are the other two novels?

I loved this book for many reasons.

I loved War That Saved My Life, and I think this one is even better from a craft standpoint. The pacing is tighter, the plot threads are better connected, and the ending is more believable.

This is my pick for Newbery winner this year, hands down. I haven't read a book this year that even comes close to it.

My question is: What age group do you recommend this book for?

My review, btw: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I couldn’t put the book down. All the characters were so real, honest and believable.

Newbery is birth to 14. Fighting Words would be a controversial but excellent choice. I totally agree that this book could save lives.

Phil wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Absolutely! Ms. Bradley has accomplished something extraordinary and very possibly life-saving here. Child sexual abuse is very real and probably more common than we think and yet, a..."

Sorry! Just saw this! Virtual teaching is sucking the life out of me.

The other two novels were, Chirp by Kate Messner and When You Know What I Know by Sonja K. Solter.

I have read many places that the Newbery is targeted for ages 8-14.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Such an important book about a difficult subject, but written in such a powerful accessible and empowering way. It is so important that victims of sexual abuse can feel empowered and not afraid to speak up. This book along with the book Chirp that came out this year are essential books for any library. I see this one as a Sibert Award contender more than a Newbery, but feel it is award worth either way.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Lisa wrote: "Such an important book about a difficult subject, but written in such a powerful accessible and empowering way. It is so important that victims of sexual abuse can feel empowered and not afraid to ..."

How is this a Sibert contender? Sibert is for informational literature.

I loved this book! I can see this book winning the Newbery . Such an important topic and I love the voice used by the author.

Simply not for elementary kids, at least not in my community.
Well done for sure, and good choice for some... unfortunately.
Should be YA.

Lisa wrote: “I see this as a Sibert award contender...”
Did you mean Printz, the award for books written for teens?

This was an engaging and great read. I liked the relationship between the two sisters (Della a& Suki) and how it changed throughout the story. I thought the relationship was realistic and at times very sad. The foster mom was a great secondary character who also grows and changes throughout the story. Sexual abuse is handled well and the characters reaction to it is realistic and believable. This a great book and one of my favorites of the year! I also struggled with whether or not to move this to the YA collection. In the end a 10 year old girl is the main character and although it is a tough subject I felt that the appeal would be more towards middle grade. I usually put 5-8 grade books in the kids room but not always so this one was a tough one.

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It has been taking me forever to write a review for this title. All I keep thinking about are the number of children and young adults that are going to be saved, rescued or have tragedy averted entirely because this book is in the world. I so hope every school or public library in the country purchases copies of Fighting Words. And categorizes it as a middle grade reader. Child sexual abuse horrifically exists for children in this age group. The author warns of upcoming difficult subject matter and it is minimally graphic. Fighting Words is powerful, raw, heroic, realistic and necessary. I desperately want this title to win a Newbery. It not only deserves an award (or two), for excellent literature, I believe it will be life saving.

FIGHTING WORDS by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is a story that “people don’t want to hear.” The author presents the most difficult parts in small pieces with substantial foreshadowing. Ten year old Della is a strong and realistic narrator of this story.
There are many aspects that make it a book for older readers. Despite camouflage, there is much cursing. A suicide attempt is quite graphic. Sexual abuse is not described in detail so many young readers nay not realize what has actually been happening.
An important part of this story is how young boys are empowered to become abusers by adults who ignore or diminish the importance of their unacceptable behavior toward contemporaries.
In the author’s notes, Bradley indicates she was abused as a child and affirms her conviction that it is possible to recover from this sad experience.

Circling around after reading some comments about it's appropriateness for middle grade. I would die on the hill for this one.

I remember very much enjoying The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Surprisingly, I feel somewhat conflicted on her latest offering, Fighting Words.

There were times when I really enjoyed it. However, there were times when I didn't know how I felt about it, too. I suppose that's too be expected with such a controversial topic as sexual abuse.

I agree with many others that it's a necessary and important book for today. However, I'd be lying if I said it was one of my favorite books of the year. With that said, I believe it's award worthy and would be happy to see it get recognition.

Award worthy for sure. Well written, and important. I would be selective on how I use the book and who I share it with.

This is a searingly beautiful story about a hard subject to share with middle schoolers. Yet, through the expert storytelling of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, we meet forthright 10-year-old Della, who narrates her tale of growing up with her 16-year-old sister Suki without a responsible caregiver to protect them. This heart-wrenching story shares what can happen to kids who have nowhere to turn, and are too afraid to speak up. It's impossible to put down.

As I was reading it I kept thinking about how it could be shared with readers 5th graders and up. The phrase "very carefully" and "individually" comes to mind. For older readers, they will recommend it to one another. The subject of sexual abuse needs to be addressed with kids, and this tale tells it so honestly, carefully, and correctly. Fighting Words is a book kids need to read, I think it's too personal and mature at certain points for the Newbery, yet it deserve lots of awards.

Brenda wrote: "Phil wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Absolutely! Ms. Bradley has accomplished something extraordinary and very possibly life-saving here. Child sexual abuse is very real and probably more common than we thi..."

Thanks, Brenda. I might need to revisit Chirp.

Virtual teaching is rough. I've been 100% virtual all year. Per contract, I go into the school and teach from an empty classroom. I think I'm getting vocal strain from trying to talk through a computer all day.

I think a lot about my students and their living situation. Most of them have not left their homes or immediate neighborhoods in months. Most of their parents are working, and the students are packed together with a mix of cousins, siblings and neighbors.

Sadly, these circumstances make it likely that sexual abuse is increasing. This book is more relevant than ever.

Phil wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Phil wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Absolutely! Ms. Bradley has accomplished something extraordinary and very possibly life-saving here. Child sexual abuse is very real and probably more com..."

I agree. I worry about all the children (and others), that are trapped with their abusers during covid. This needs to be over soon.

The part of the book that still stands out to me is the part where she is talking with a counselor (I think - it's been a few months since I read it) and the adult says that 2/3 of kids deal with one of the 10 hard things. When I read that sentence I thought, "Wow, that many" and in the next sentence Della says "you mean there is 1/3 who never have to deal with any of these things?"

This book is so needed for some many. Bradley brilliantly wrote in that fine line of reaching the kids that need it and allowing that other 1/3 to realize that we need to keep fighting for those who need it.

Read my 5-star review of Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Wow! Just finished this book and once again am amazed at Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. She has a way of writing that hits you right in the gut! As much as I love this book, I really feel it is for middle age students - maybe for mature 5th graders? Excellent - 5 stars out of 5!

Not for elementary children. P.E.R.I.O.D. .

Moving, beautiful and necessary for elementary children.

Distinguished in all respects.

I just finished this one. I'm a huge fan of Brubaker Bradley's, but was skeptical that these topics could be covered in an age appropriate way. She did it, and did so beautifully. I'm so impressed. I'm planning to read it with my own 12 and 13yo children soon, but feel it could be read with kids as young as 10 if you were willing to discuss and support them through it. I would love to see this win a Newbery.

This book is quite high on my list of likely candidates for this year's Newbery award. I read Fighting Words in about two days because I could not put it down. I wanted to see what would happen next. I loved that the foster mother is neither of the two foster parent literary stereotypes (overly affectionate and caring to the point of being saccharine or needlessly and unrealistically cruel and while yes there are plenty of people like that in the world, it doesn't move your story along to have a cardboard cutout as a main character). She cared enough to provide her charges with support, food, clothes, a safe place to live, and access to all the things they needed to thrive but she didn't try to take over as their mom the second they walked through the door. That turned out to be just what the main characters needed too. I'm also impressed with how well this story handles complex issues unlike so many books that either sugar coat or gloss over them.

Rachel- I think you are spot on about the foster mom- I was all primed to really dislike her given foster parent stereotypes- was so glad the author took a different direction.

I'm about halfway through fighting words and absolutely agree that this is a notable work! I want to booktalk this to some of the kids I see, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that. Should I be candid about the book containing sexual abuse? Do I stay vague? I don't want kids to feel overwhelmed by the trauma if they aren't ready for it, but I do think there are many kids who would benefit from reading this book...

Rachel wrote: "I'm about halfway through fighting words and absolutely agree that this is a notable work! I want to booktalk this to some of the kids I see, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that. Should I b..."

You could say you are enjoying the book and think they might as well. Tell them why you like it and provide a synopsis. Then they can decide if it is a book they would like to read.

Rachel wrote: "Should I be candid about the book containing sexual abuse?"

Yes, you should.

As a fellow teacher, I understand the discomfort. However, that very discomfort is part of the problem. If we expect children to be candid when they report on this topic, then we need to lead by example.