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If You Like... Fencing

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En Guard! I'm a big fan of fantasy, which means that I tend to admire characters who can wield a sword. However, lunges, parries, and ripostes are not just for medieval combat, they're also terms used in modern fencing. Fencing can be a fun sport to increase your dexterity and precision, and it's pretty fun to watch. If you also think fencing is interesting, here's four books highlighting this cool sport.

By Andrea Beatriz Arango
New York: Random House Children's Books, 2025. Fiction. 252 pages.

Vale loves fencing, but after a car accident leaves her injured, she has to heal from her injuries while getting back in shape to fence competatively. However, her determination to return to her former capabilities leaves her in pain and frustrated with her friends. A newcomer to the team who performs better than Vale also adds tension, especially as Vale finds herself with a bit of a crush on this teammate. This novel in verse explores Vale coming to grips with her injury and figuring out who she is outside of fencing.

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

There's only one thing that could mess up Lucy's first year of middle school: her sister, GiGi. Lucy has been constantly fighting with her eighth-grade older sister since their dad died. When GiGi trips Lucy in the lunchroom one day, Lucy decides to challenge her to a fencing duel. The only problem is that Lucy is only a beginner, where as GiGi is on the school team. With the help of their late father's fencing manual, Lucy prepares herself to face off against her sister.

By Cassidy Wasserman
New York: RH Graphic, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, 2025. Comics. 249 pages.

Dealing with the aftermath of her parents' divorce and a best friend breakup, Grace has a lot on her mind as she's starting seventh grade. When her first day goes as bad as she thought it would, she hides out in the gym where the fencing team is practicing. She soon becomes entranced by the sport, making new friends and working through the emotions of her new home life. However, not all is taken care of, her mom continues to not understand Grace and all feels like it's falling apart when one of her new friends seems to be trading Grace for someone more popular.

Written by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S. K. Ali
Illustrated by Hatem Aly
New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2024. Picture Book.

Faizah loves fencing and Friday prayers, but not standing out. She feels much safer as a part of the crowd. But when her fencing coach asks her if she'll participate in an upcoming tournament, she's not sure if she'll be able to handle everyone looking at her. It takes words of encouragement from her mom to help Faizah be brave and bold.
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