Delicious is 10 years old and would prefer to be called Della. Della has a story to share, but she knows it isn't going to be easy so she starts slowly. She and older sister Suki narrowly escaped death when their mother blew up a motel room cooking meth. Their mother ended up incarcerated in Kansas, and Della and Suki ended up living with Clifton their mom's boyfriend.
Now Della and Suki live with Francine. She is their foster mom, and according to her she has to take care of them and get them whatever they need with the money she gets from the state. Things aren't too bad. They have new clothes for the very first time. They have enough to eat and treats from Food City where Suki gets her first job. But, there's something hanging over Della's head from their lives before better times and foster care.
Back when they were living with Clifton, Suki's friend Teena showed up one day just in time to snap pictures proving that Clifton was touching Della in a most inappropriate way. Thanks to the video Della and Suki are now safe, and there's enough evidence to take Clifton to court. But, as usual for Della, things aren't as simple as they seem.
In addition to getting used to living with Francine, going to a new school, and making a new friend Della is trying to understand why Suki wakes screaming every night and refuses to explain what's bothering her. The truth becomes all too clear when Suki frightens Della by attempting suicide with a knife in Francine's kitchen. Now the girls must face their fears and find a way to ease the pain they are both experiencing.
In FIGHTING WORDS author Kimberly Brubaker Bradley deftly handles extremely sensitive subjects in a way that opens them to discussion and better understanding of the fact that more people are victims of sexual abuse that one could ever imagine. Della's 10 year old voice will break hearts as she speaks up for all those victims who might not yet have the courage.
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