On Guard! - (Marshall Middle School) by Cassidy Wasserman (Hardcover)

About the Book

Twelve-year-old "Katie is having trouble adapting to a new school year after her parents separate and her best friend is no longer her best friend, but maybe fencing club will give her a place to be herself"--

Book Synopsis

Grace is trying to find her footing in 7th grade, but between a best friend break up and her rocky relationship with her mom, it isn't easy. Is the middle school fencing club the answer to finding her people...and maybe even herself?

A NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

"On Guard! is a great story about a kid finding her footing (and a cool new sport!) despite the shifting sands of divorce." --Lucy Knisley, New York Times Bestselling creator of Stepping Stones

"A great choice for fans of The ­Tryout, Duel, and Nat Enough." --School Library Journal

On guard? Ready? Fence!

Grace isn't ready for a new school year. Her best friend Ava dropped her at the end of last year, the dust is still settling from her parents' messy divorce, and things are not going well between Grace and her mom. Mothers and daughters are always so close in movies. But that's never been Grace and her mom. So now Grace has no friends, no hobbies (band was Ava's thing), and home feels even more complicated than school. There's not a single place Grace can just relax. Until, she sees the school's fencing club practicing. They look so sure of themselves. So steady. It may not solve everything...but could this be a place Grace can finally belong and be herself?

Review Quotes

"Readers will commiserate with the emotional journeys in this simply presented, deeply affecting story." --Kirkus Reviews

"[A] memorably action-driven story about friendship and personal strength." --Publishers Weekly

"[A] solid coming-of-age story....With plenty of ups and downs, this middle school sports story will appeal to fans of friendship-themed narratives." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Cassidy Wasserman is an artist in the game industry and is making her Graphic novel debut with On Guard! When she's not creating, Cassidy enjoys épée fencing, listening to musicals, and agility training with her dog, Zag. Cassidy lives in the mountains of Maine, where she is working on her next graphic novel.