Liz Lawson
Incredibly moving, beautifully written, and oh-so powerful, All the Fighting Parts is a stunning debut novel-in-verse. Hannah V. Sawyerr is a talent to watch.
New York Times bestselling author Joy McCullough
Gutsy and defiant, All the Fighting Parts is a battle hymn for loud-mouthed girls, and a searing invitation to all—but especially survivors—to speak their truth.
author of Dear Medusa Olivia A. Cole
A powerful story about what must be done with silence. Sawyerr gives us the answer that we all need to hear: Break it.
From the Publisher
Gutsy and defiant, All the Fighting Parts is a battle hymn for loud-mouthed girls, and a searing invitation to all—but especially survivors—to speak their truth.”—Joy McCullough, New York Times bestselling author
“The sharp shift in tone and structure instantly divides Amina’s story into a stark before and after in the same way an assault can divide a life. But she, like most courageous victims, refuses to let divide define her. A heroic and candid debut.”—Ashley Woodfolk, critically acclaimed author of Nothing Burns as Bright as You
“Incredibly moving, beautifully written, and oh-so powerful, All the Fighting Parts is a stunning debut novel-in-verse. Hannah V. Sawyerr is a talent to watch.” —Liz Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of The Agathas, The Night in Question, and The Lucky O
“Perfect for readers of Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson and The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, All the Fighting Parts is an honest, brilliant, and powerful novel-in-verse. Amina’s story isn’t just about a girl who survives sexual assault. Readers will root for her as she journeys through survival, grief of losing a parent, and the role faith can play in finding oneself. A mixed media novel filled with smart writing and honest poetry, Sawyerr tackles difficult topics like religion, sexuality, and survival with tenderness and care. A must read for anyone who has ever felt the words ‘me too’ in their heart.”—Dante Medema, author of The Truth Project
“From the very first pages of All the Fighting Parts, Amina grabbed me with her will to not just survive but thrive. Raw, no-nonsense verse digs deep into Amina’s emotions as she fights her way back after sexual assault to find her voice and reclaim her life. An incredible, empowering book.”—Kip Wilson, award-winning author of White Rose and The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin
“A powerful story about what must be done with silence. Sawyerr gives us the answer that we all need to hear: Break it.”—Olivia A. Cole, author of Dear Medusa
"This book is a victory."—Mark Oshiro, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"A lightning bolt of a debut."—Jordan Ifueko, New York Times bestselling author of Raybearer
****STARRED REVIEW***** "Amina’s emotional growth and experiences in therapy feel authentic, leading to a satisfying ending that is properly earned. An unforgettable story of healing told through phenomenal poetry."—Kirkus
***STARRED REVIEW*** "Achingly profound and inspiring; a must for all collections.."—School Library Journal
"[A] compelling debut novel about hard truths, healing, strength, and tenderness."—Booklist
critically acclaimed author of Nothing Burns as Br Ashley Woodfolk
The sharp shift in tone and structure instantly divides Amina’s story into a stark before and after in the same way an assault can divide a life. But she, like most courageous victims, refuses to let divide define her. A heroic and candid debut.
New York Times bestselling author of Raybearer Jordan Ifueko
"A lightning bolt of a debut."
award-winning author of White Rose and The Most Da Kip Wilson
From the very first pages of All the Fighting Parts, Amina grabbed me with her will to not just survive but thrive. Raw, no-nonsense verse digs deep into Amina’s emotions as she fights her way back after sexual assault to find her voice and reclaim her life. An incredible, empowering book.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Oshiro
"This book is a victory."
author of The Truth Project Dante Medema
Perfect for readers of Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson and The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, All the Fighting Parts is an honest, brilliant, and powerful novel-in-verse. Amina’s story isn’t just about a girl who survives sexual assault. Readers will root for her as she journeys through survival, grief of losing a parent, and the role faith can play in finding oneself. A mixed media novel filled with smart writing and honest poetry, Sawyerr tackles difficult topics like religion, sexuality, and survival with tenderness and care. A must read for anyone who has ever felt the words ‘me too’ in their heart.
Booklist
"[A] compelling debut novel about hard truths, healing, strength, and tenderness."
School Library Journal
★ 09/01/2023
Gr 9 Up—Sixteen-year-old Amina Conteh is a reflection of her deceased mother—not only her dark skin and kinky curls, but her spirit. Her words are her weapon: all the fighting parts from her mom that concern her father. When Amina's sharp tongue lands her in trouble again at school, her father's solution is to send her to volunteer for a well-respected pastor at church. Annoyed at first to be working alongside "Holy Holly" from school, Amina becomes motivated by an offer to be paid for her work. One evening Pastor "Call me Randall" Johnson sets up a scenario where they are alone sorting papers, and he sexually assaults her. Amina becomes withdrawn, struggles in school, and distances herself from her best friend and boyfriend. When Johnson is unexpectedly arrested at church, Amina realizes she isn't the only one he has hurt. She digs deep to find her voice, while the only time her father breaks his silence is to speak over her. This stunning debut novel in verse unearths Amina's entangled emotions of self-blame and RAGE via poetry in free verse, concrete, contrapuntal, and other forms. Texts, police interview transcripts, and news media are also interjected, enlightening readers in a fast-paced style to events unfolding before and after that devastating evening. Sawyerr navigates this painful topic with grace and sensitivity, with the assault itself taking place off-page. She focuses on Amina's individual journey and acknowledges there are different pathways to healing from trauma. The complex relationship between father and daughter also evolves along the way. VERDICT Achingly profound and inspiring; a must for all collections.—Lisa Krok
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-07-13
This page-turning novel in verse shows a 16-year-old Baltimore girl’s resilience after surviving a sexual assault by a powerful church leader.
Amina Conteh’s father credits her late mother, “a woman who knew her / rage was as powerful as her love,” for her fighting spirit, something he doesn’t always approve of. After Amina gets in trouble at school for standing up to a disrespectful classmate, he decides she’ll help out at church as punishment, which ultimately leads to Pastor Johnson’s raping her. Amina has an emotionally and physically fulfilling relationship with Deon, the pastor’s adored nephew. He and her best friend, Talia, a queer, fashion-conscious Dominican girl, provide relief from her strained relationship with her strict, highly religious father. But as she endures the aftermath of her trauma, Amina, the daughter of immigrants from Sierra Leone, finds that her relationships and confidence suffer. Interspersed throughout the stunning verse are journal entries, text messages, police interview transcripts, and news articles that highlight various people’s perspectives, intricately building suspense when the news breaks of another victim of Pastor Johnson. The expectations for women at Amina’s church are oppressive and sexist, though the Black church community provided Amina’s parents with comfort, adding complexity as she wrestles with whether to speak out. Amina’s emotional growth and experiences in therapy feel authentic, leading to a satisfying ending that is properly earned.
An unforgettable story of healing told through phenomenal poetry. (author’s note, resources) (Verse fiction. 14-18)
