There are so many things to love about today.  Not only is it a few days before my favorite holiday, but it's also my birthday (which I share with my dad), and Top Ten Tuesday.  Talk about a delightful trifecta!  My dad and I live in different states, so unfortunately, we don't get to celebrate our special day together very often. The Norman Rockwell-ish picture above is from a family party in 2013.  It's not a great shot of either of us, but I think it shows how much we love each other :)  I hope you are feeling lots of love this season as well, even if the holidays look a little different this year.  Merry Christmas to you and yours! 

Today's Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl) has a Christmas theme (naturally).  It's all about the treasures we're hoping to find under the tree this year.  Honestly, I live a very charmed and blessed life, so I already have everything I could possibly want and need.  Having all my babies happy, healthy, and home for Christmas is all the gift I need in this crazy year.  Still, if Santa really, REALLY wanted to spoil me, he could check this list twice:   

Top Ten Bookish Things I Hope Santa Brings 

Every child needs a fierce protector.  Ten-year-old Della has her older sister, Suki.  It was Suki who cared for her while their mother cooked meth; Suki who watched out for her when their mom went to prison, leaving the girls in the care of her abusive boyfriend; Suki who got the evidence that convicted him for molesting Della; and Suki who still shields her even though the sisters are finally safe with Francine, their forthright but loving foster mother.  It's only now that Della is beginning to realize that while she's always had Suki as her older, wiser guard, Suki's never really had anyone to fulfill that role.  And she's needed a protector.  Desperately.  When Suki tries to take her own life, Della discovers just how broken her she-wolf sister really is.  Can Della find a way to nurture her sister the way Suki has always done for Della?  Will the two ever find the healing they so need and deserve?

As you can no doubt tell, Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is a raw, gut punch of a novel.  While it's not graphic, it's still honest and hard-hitting.  The thing that saves it from being unrelentingly grim is our heroine, Della.  She's tough, irrepressible, and hilarious.  Her voice is absolutely pitch-perfect.  For all these reasons, it's impossible not to root for her and Suki.  While Fighting Words is about so many things—sexual abuse, consent, bravery, resilience, etc.—it's really about two sisters and their unbreakable bond.  Despite its touch subject matter, I loved this beautiful, empowering novel.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me a bit of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson)

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find