It’s the first day at Butler Middle School for Lucy and she’s nervous. The other kids look so much older and she feels out of place and awkward among them. Relief comes when her friend Sasha finds her and they catch up quickly, comparing timetables and ponder any clubs they might join.

Sasha mentions the Fencing team for Lucy but she brushes it off. They both know she won’t join and it’s for two reasons. One is that Lucy’s older sister Gigi is an accomplished academic student and fencing team member, and the other is because of their father.

He taught his daughters fencing when they were younger, but after he passed away, Gigi continued and Lucy dropped it all together. Although she had fond memories of her few lessons with her dad, she can’t bring herself to continue without him in their life.

In fact, ever since he passed away the sisters haven’t got along. He was the peacemaker in the family, and their hard working mum is struggling to keep them from constantly sniping at each other. The final straw is when Gigi humiliates Lucy in front of everyone on her very first day at Butler Middle School. Lucy lays down a challenge on the spot. A fencing bout.

Gigi accepts and Lucy quickly regrets her decision. Not only is Gigi going for the top spot on the school Fencing team, everyone heard her challenge and she can’t back out. The whole point is to show Gigi that she isn’t top of everything and that her little sister can beat her at least one thing.

Time before the bout is spent practicing with Sasha and hoping she won’t be made a fool of yet again at her new school.

Gigi is aware of the hype building in the school around the challenge and begins to doubt her own skills. How will she show her face again if Lucy beats her?

Meanwhile, they are both dealing with their feelings at the loss of their dad, an inattentive and stressed out mum, and their never-ending sibling war. Will they ever be the family they once were?

This graphic novel is an entertaining read, and will be a perfect fit for anyone wanting to know more about the sport of fencing, or with an entrenched rivalry with a sibling.

Fencing – Every chapter begins with a Fencing rule, stance or movement, building right up until actually fencing with an opponent. The words used and points system is also explained, all whilst siblings Lucy and Gigi are building up to their own bout.

Sibling rivalry – The reader sees both points of view and how the siblings are really feeling about each other, their mum and life without their dad. Unresolved feelings have simmered deep inside them both, and it’s only when a close peer and a family member step in that they can have hope of working through things.

The challenge goes ahead regardless and the illustration style and story build the tension magnificently until a winner is finally announced. But the beauty of this challenge and final result is there are many more winners than at first imagined.

Author – Jessixa Bagley

Illustrator – Aaron Bagley

Graphic Novel

Age – 8+

(2024, Simon & Schuster, Graphic Novel, Middle School, Sisters, Sibling Rivalry, Fencing, Sport, Challenge, Grief, Resentment, Loss, Action, Betrayal, Practice, Conflict, Family, Grandmother, Growing Up, Love)