Duel
Sixth grader Lucy knows starting middle school will be complicated rather than eased by the presence of her older sister, eighth grader Gigi. The two don’t get along, having deep-seated jealousy and animosity that grew out of grief following the death of their dad (Black) a few years before. He was a fencing instructor and taught them both; now Gigi is vying for captain of the school fencing team, while Lucy has given up the sport. Each sister firmly believes that their father favored the other. Their mom (white) is overwhelmed by work and parenting on her own, and it feels to both sisters like she’s checked out, always telling them to resolve their disputes independently. When an argument in the school cafeteria leads to a public challenge, Lucy throws herself back into training, while Gigi works out a way to veil the duel as team tryout to disguise the sisters’ showdown. As they each prepare, the fighting and sniping continues, while flashbacks reveal what slowly brought them to this place of disconnection. A graphic novel with abundant information about fencing works as an introduction to the sport on one level, while exploring the complexities of grief as it impacts individuals and a family on another. A note from the author expands on the duality of Duel, complemented by an illustrator’s note from her collaborator husband. ©2023 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Aaron Bagley
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 10-14
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Graphic Novel
Subjects:
African Americans
Arguments/Conflict
Competitions and Contests
Competitiveness
Grief and Loss
Jealousy/Envy
Multiracial Characters/Families
School
Secrets
Sisters
Sports
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster
Publish Year: 2023
Pages: 307
ISBN: 9781534496552
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 741.5 Bagley