A rivalry between sisters culminates in a fencing duel in this funny and emotional debut graphic novel sure to appeal to readers of Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale.
Sixth grader Lucy loves fantasy novels and is brand-new to middle school. GiGi is the undisputed queen bee of eighth grade (as well as everything else she does). They’ve only got one thing in common: fencing. Oh, and they’re sisters. They never got along super well, but ever since their dad died, it seems like they’re always at each other’s throats.
When GiGi humiliates Lucy in the cafeteria on the first day of school, Lucy snaps and challenges GiGi to a duel with high sisterly stakes. If GiGi wins, Lucy promises to stay out of GiGi’s way; if Lucy wins, GiGi will stop teasing Lucy for good. But after their scene in the cafeteria, both girls are on thin ice with the principal and their mom. Lucy stopped practicing fencing after their fencer dad died and will have to get back to fighting form in secret or she’ll be in big trouble. And GiGi must behave perfectly or risk getting kicked off the fencing team.
As the clock ticks down to the girls’ fencing bout, the anticipation grows. Their school is divided into GiGi and Lucy factions, complete with t-shirts declaring kids’ allegiances. Both sisters are determined to triumph. But will winning the duel mean fracturing their family even further?---from the publisher
320 pages 978-1534496552 Ages 9-13
Keywords: graphic novel, sibling rivalry, sisters, fencing, father/daughter, grief, family, Black Girl books, African American and Black stories, diversity, diverse books, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old, 13 year old, dealing with feelings, dealing with emotions, mother/daughter
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Little sisters, oh brother. Always in your way. Big sisters, oh brother. Always putting you down. That's what it looks like on the outside. But if you go poking around just a little bit deeper, get underneath that tough skin, you can find the truth
These two African American sisters share two things. One, their beloved dad has passed away. He was the one who taught them dignity and self esteem and how to fence. But he's gone now. Two, their mother is drowning in emotional pain and doesn't see her daughters and how they are struggling and that leaves the two girls to take their own pain out on each other and that's not going well. Actually, the two sisters are about the have a showdown - a fencing match.
Poignant and fierce, this story will call up familiar feelings for some sisters and some brothers too. These sisters are going to aim their epees at each other. What do we aim at each other? After the battle ends, what will winning look like?
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
