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Review: Duel

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Duel
Written by Jessixa Bagley
Illustrated by Aaron Bagley
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023. Comics. 307 pages.

Lucy and GiGi are sisters who are constantly fighting. When a big fight on the first day of school lands them in the principal's office, the sisters decide to settle things once and for all with a big fencing bout in front of the whole school. If GiGi wins, Lucy will stay out of her way until GiGi goes to high school and if Lucy wins, then GiGi will stop bullying her. GiGi is an experienced fencer and one of the best on the school team whereas Lucy is talented but her skills are more basic. As they prepare for their duel, the story is told from both sister's perspective which helps the reader understand how we got here and why we should empathize with both girls. Lucy and GiGi's father has recently passed away and their mother has withdrawn into her grief. The already strained relationship between the two sisters is now heightened by their complex emotions and grief. As the big bout comes closer, both Lucy and GiGi are having second thoughts, but is it too late to back out now?

Fencing is at the center of this story, but this is really a story about the relationship between sisters and what happens when that relationship is fraught with problems. At first glance, this book looks like a run of the mill graphic novel but this is really an emotionally complex exploration of grief, sisterhood, love, and forgiveness. As a graphic novel, this book works really well. The artwork is simple and tonal and integrates well with the text. Though a little text-heavy at points, the plot keeps the story moving forward. Lucy and GiGi are biracial with a Black father and a white mother. Good for fans of realistic graphic novels who aren't afraid of shedding a couple tears.



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