
Reach for this book when your child is ready to navigate the complexities of personal boundaries, or when they are processing past family trauma and need to see their own resilience reflected back. This is a fierce, honest story about ten year old Della and her sister Suki, who are finding safety in a foster home after escaping an abusive situation with their mother's boyfriend. While the subject matter is heavy, the story is told through Della's blunt, funny, and brave perspective. It is an essential choice for parents who want to empower their children to speak their truth. It is most appropriate for mature middle grade readers (ages 10 to 14) because of its direct handling of sexual abuse and mental health. Ultimately, this is not a book about being a victim: it is a triumphant celebration of sisterly love and the power of finding your own voice.
Explores the complexity of loving a parent who is in prison.
Deals with the aftermath of child sexual abuse and the foster care system.
Includes a non-graphic but serious suicide attempt.
The book deals directly with child sexual abuse, suicide attempts, and parental incarceration. The approach is secular, realistic, and unflinching. The resolution is profoundly hopeful but grounded in the reality that healing is a long, non linear process.
A mature 11 or 12 year old who is beginning to understand that the world isn't always safe, or a child in foster care who needs to see a realistic depiction of trauma that ends in agency rather than pity.
Parents should be aware of the suicide attempt in the middle of the book. It is handled with care but is very visceral. It is best read alongside a parent or with an open door for conversation. A parent might reach for this after a child asks about 'bad touches' or boundaries, or if a child is struggling with the aftermath of a secret that felt too big to keep.
A 10 year old will focus on Della's humor and the concept of 'fighting words.' A 14 year old will more deeply grasp the nuances of Suki's sacrifice and the systemic failures of the foster system.
Bradley avoids the 'after school special' tone by giving Della a voice that is authentically raw, funny, and occasionally profane, making the sisters feel like real people rather than statistics.
After their mother goes to prison, Della and Suki live with their mother's boyfriend until he sexually abuses Suki. The sisters escape to a foster home with a kind woman named Francine. While Della tries to adjust to a new school and find her voice, Suki struggles with the weight of her trauma, culminating in a suicide attempt. The story follows their path toward healing and the legal process of holding their abuser accountable.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review