Fighting Words
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

*Starred Review* Della, 10, and her 16-year-old sister, Suki, have recently escaped an abusive home and found placement in foster care. Della speaks directly to the reader, promising to tell the hardest part later. Turpin's narration of Della invites the listener into Della's story—she is mighty in moments of anger, like punching a bully, and vulnerable in moments when she worries if she's too much trouble for her foster mom to keep. Della's world has long relied on the love and care of her sister, and Turpin gives Suki a tighter voice that conveys the pressures and depression Suki feels. Turpin also shines as practical Francine, the girls' new foster mom, who is intent on giving the girls stability without sentimentality. Turpin displays a mastery of accents: Francine's voice has a subtle underpinning of a white Appalachian twang, while Della's shows an influence of southern African American accents. Giving a distinct accent to each of the characters in Della's world adds believability and places the listener in the Tennessee setting. The strong writing gives Della's world both heartbreak and humor; Turpin's narration radiates the range of emotions. Acknowledging the difficulty of voicing hard things like sexual abuse, this book emphasizes the power of finding one's fighting words to tell one's own story. Della, as voiced by Turpin, masterfully shares hers. Grades 5-8. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.