All the Fighting Parts: A Novel
In the vein of Grown and The Poet X, Hannah V. Sawyerr’s All the Fighting Parts is an award-winning, searing, and defiant young adult novel in verse about reclaiming agency after a sexual assault within the church community.
A YALSA William C.Morris Award Finalist
A Walter Award Honor Book
An ALA Rise List Top Ten Selection
A Kirkus Books Best of the Year
Sixteen-year-old Amina Conteh has always believed in using her voice as her weapon—even when it gets her into trouble. After cursing at a classmate, her father forces her to volunteer at their church with Pastor Johnson.
But Pastor Johnson isn’t the holy man everyone thinks he is.
The same voice Amina uses to fight falls quiet the night she is sexually assaulted by Pastor Johnson. After that, her life starts to unravel: her father is frustrated that her grades are slipping, and her best friend and boyfriend don’t understand why the once loud and proud girl is now quiet and distant. In a world that claims to support survivors, Amina wonders who will support her when her attacker is everyone’s favorite community leader.
When Pastor Johnson is arrested for a different crime, the community is shaken and divided; some call him a monster and others defend him. But Amina is secretly relieved. She no longer has to speak because Pastor Johnson can’t hurt her anymore—or so she believes.
To regain her voice and sense of self, Amina must find the power to confront her abuser—in the courtroom and her heart—and learn to use all the fighting parts within her.
# of Pages: 400
Book Binding: Hardcover
Year of Publication: 2023
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Language: en
ISBN: 9781419762611
Hannah V. Sawyerr is a passionate storyteller and a rising voice in contemporary literature. Born and raised in New York, she has always been drawn to the power of words and their ability to capture the human experience. After studying creative writing at Columbia University, Sawyerr went on to pursue a career in journalism, writing for various publications before turning her focus to fiction. Her debut novel, All the Fighting Parts, delves into the intricacies of family, love, and ambition, and has been praised for its raw and honest portrayal of modern relationships. Sawyerr's writing is characterized by its sharp wit, emotional depth, and unflinching exploration of the complexities of human nature.