On Guard!

Written by Cassidy Wasserman

Can a middle school fencing club help Grace find belonging amidst family and friendship turmoil?

4.1 Goodreads · 472 ratings

256 pages· 6,359 words· Est. 1 hour read· GN530L

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Bookroo's summary

Grace faces a turbulent 7th grade with a best friend breakup and a strained relationship with her mom. As her parents' divorce looms, Grace feels lost and alone. But when she discovers the school's fencing club, she wonders if this could be her sanctuary. Can she find her place and redefine herself through this unexpected sport? Dive into Grace's journey of self-discovery and resilience as she navigates the complexities of friendship, family, and finding where she truly belongs.

From the publisher

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?

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