Duel

Starred review from September 18, 2023
Brown-skinned siblings Lucy and GiGi have fought ceaselessly since their father’s death. With their pale-skinned, grief-stricken mother exhausted by her job, the sisters are often left to mediate their conflicts, which escalate when, on Lucy’s first day of middle school, popular eighth grader GiGi trips her in the cafeteria. Lucy then challenges her to a fencing duel: if GiGi wins, Lucy will stay out of her way; if Lucy wins, GiGi will stop bullying her. Though both girls were taught by their father, Lucy only knows fencing basics, while GiGi is the star of the school team. As they prepare, each ruminates on what led them to this moment, and wonders how the battle will affect their relationship. Married collaborators the Bagleys seamlessly blend sports drama with middle school angst in this cleverly constructed graphic novel; chapters begin by introducing fencing concepts that mirror the action, and past events are conveyed in sequences rendered in dreamy blue linework that juxtaposes present-day full-color spreads. Incisive discussions about grief and the importance of support from family and friends—deepened by the contrast between Lucy’s and GiGi’s relationships with their best friends—deepens this already rich story of sisterly rivalry that’s also an earnest love letter to fencing. Ages 8–12.

October 1, 2023
Constantly fighting sisters face off in a high-stakes duel. GiGi has worked hard to be the perfect eighth grader and the best athlete on the fencing team. New sixth grader Lucy is nervous about starting middle school. The only thing they have in common is a love of fencing, and ever since their father died, their bickering has worsened. Everything culminates in a public scene in which GiGi humiliates Lucy in the school cafeteria. Lucy pulls out her foil and challenges GiGi to a duel. As the sisters prepare for their bout, the whole school begins picking sides. GiGi and Lucy must also choose: themselves or each other? The story is told from both sisters' perspectives, allowing readers to sympathize and understand each of their sides, ensuring that neither one is seen as merely cruel. Each chapter opens with a sepia-toned page resembling an excerpt from an old sporting manual that explains an aspect of fencing. Those not interested in fencing may get bogged down in the technical details, but those who reflect on them retroactively will notice the clever way they relate to the events of the story. The artwork is simple, with flashbacks drawn in light indigo against a white background and contemporary events in full color with an emphasis on the characters' expressions. The sisters read biracial, with a white-presenting mother and a father who appears Black. Intense and complex, exploring siblings' grief, love, and forgiveness. (author's note, photos, sketches) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

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Starred review from October 15, 2023
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* Lucy's entering a new school for sixth grade, where her sister, GiGi, is an eighth-grader. Almost right from the start, the thick tension between them at home spills over at school when GiGi trips Lucy and Lucy challenges GiGi to a duel with GiGi's own fencing foil. Despite warnings from the principal, Lucy sticks to her plan and secretly trains with the help of her late father's fencing guidebook, hoping to take GiGi, the best fencer in school, down a peg. Jessixa Bagley's story of sister rivalry gradually builds in emotional depth, as the origin of GiGi and Lucy's conflict eventually comes to the fore: still dealing with the grief of losing their father, a notable fencing instructor, each girl is jealous of the time he spent with the other, feelings that intensify as they practice techniques he taught them. Aaron Bagley's nimble cartooning makes great work of the speedy, minute moves in fencing matches, as well as the expressive faces and body language that signal the girls' big emotions. Each chapter opens with a page from the guidebook, which neatly echoes the story's plot. With an uncommonly keen eye for the convoluted way kids deal with grief, this heartening story of growth and a family healing from loss is a natural pick for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from November 1, 2023
Fantasy-loving Lucy and her perfectionist older sister, Gigi, have been fighting ever since their dad's passing. When Gigi, a popular eighth grader, trips Lucy in the lunchroom on her first day of middle school, Lucy can't take it anymore: she publicly challenges Gigi, "the best fencer in school," to a duel. (Gigi: "A...duel?!...Fencers don't have duels -- we have bouts.") The two are called to the principal's office for a meeting alongside their grief-stricken, overworked mom. Though a bout is forbidden, the sisters plan one anyway to be held during upcoming fencing team tryouts. As the two prepare to compete, they begin to process and address (with friends, their mother, and each other) some of the ways that their father's death has affected them. A satisfying, hopeful conclusion includes a heartfelt note from the creators explaining the graphic novel's real-life inspirations. Aaron Bagley's coarse line and hand lettering-based font give the illustrations a natural, raw feel. The beginning of each chapter resembles a page from a fencing guide, connecting to the well-paced plot and scaffolding readers' understanding. Color-coded inset boxes showcasing the siblings' personal thoughts and vulnerabilities add further depth to their characters; tender blue-hued flashback scenes allow the girls' father and his memory to be ever-present. A down-to-earth and emotional family story. Elisa Gall

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)