"On Guard!" is a middle grade graphic novel by Cassidy Wasserman. Grace is starting a new year of middle school without her best friend (who decided to no longer be friends with her at the end of last school year), no other friends, and no activities. Her parents are divorced and she lives mostly with her father and does weekends with her mother, though the custody arrangement is scheduled to change to her mother having her every other week. Grace's relationship with her mother is rough; her mother doesn't seem to care about Grace other than bragging to her friends on the phone about her, and using her to get back at her ex-husband. Gace discovers the fencing team and feels like she's found a place, but will her new friends stick with her if she loses?
An emotional and important story and a must-buy for middle grade graphic novel collections.

Grace’s best friend Ava has dumped her. Her parents have gotten divorced, and she has to go from one house to the other, and her mother “says” that she wants to spend time with her, but often ends up on her phone, or talking about something else.

She can’t eat in the cafeteria, because that’s where Ava and her old friends are, and you can’t eat in the library, so she ends up int he gym, watching the fencing matches. And that is how it starts.

Grace finds that she loves fencing, and she makes friends there. And she gathers courage to tell her mother how she really feels.

This is a great story. There are so many stories of friendships ending, sure, but this is a story of moving past that, and not dwelling on the past, and realizing that she has nothing to fear from speaking her mind. Divorce is so hard on kids, but having parents fighting is harder.

Although this book says that is is part of the Marshall MIddle School series, this is actually a debut novel, and is wonderfully clear on the feelings one goes through when having a complicated relationship with one parent, as well as navigating making new friendships. I also like how the author slipped in a non-binary character in, without making a big fuss about it. They were just them, and then the story moves on.

I look forward to anything the author comes up with next. And of course, this made me cry, so that has that going for it. 🙂

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 10th of June 2025.

So cute! Good story that integrates sports seamlessly into the narrative. Useful, non-preachy life lessons and low key diversity throughout.

This was a perfect middle grade book for teens navigating new friendships and joining a club and feeling that support. Divorce is such a hard topic and this read had me feeling Graces anxiety!

Thank you Random House Children's Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: Seventh-grader Grace navigates a best friend breakup, family struggles, and self-discovery, finding unexpected confidence and belonging in her school's fencing club.

My review: On Guard! is a fantastic lower middle-grade graphic novel that skillfully balances a realistic and engaging plot with relatable themes. The story follows seventh-grader Grace as she grapples with her parents’ divorce, shifting family dynamics, and the challenges of middle school friendships. Readers will appreciate how the book explores these struggles authentically, capturing the confusion and growth that come with such significant life changes.

One of the novel’s standout elements is its focus on a less commonly portrayed theme: a strained mother-daughter relationship. Unlike the loving “best-friend” bond often depicted in media, Grace’s relationship with her mother is complicated and fraught with tension. The author, as noted in the front matter, handles this dynamic thoughtfully, showing how Grace learns to navigate the difficulties and advocate for herself in the process.

Recommended for upper elementary/lower middle grades

Genres/Themes: Juvenile Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Sports & Recreation / Family - Marriage & Divorce

"On Guard!" is scheduled for publication on June 10, 2025 by Random House Children's Books.

Grace’s school year is off to a rough start. Her parents are divorced and she’s not getting along with her mom. She’s no longer friends with Ava, but they picked all the same classes when they were friends. This makes school not fun. When she sees a group of kids fencing, she finds out that they are looking for new members. She decides to join. There, she must learn strategy for fencing as well as her new life. Will she make new friends? Will she figure out a way to cope with all the changes in her life?

Illustrations are muted color graphics that draw the reader’s eye to them. The plot is well written, realistic, and enjoyable. The characters are likable, easy to relate to, and authentic. Overall, a great story for those readers who are dealing with similar situations, have liked Reina Telgemeier or Shannon Hale, or who are interested in realistic fiction, friendship stories, graphic novels, or books about finding one’s footing in life. Recommended for library collections where such books are popular. Gr 4 to 7, 4 stars.