Middle Grade Fiction – Comics & Graphic Novels – Humorous – Ages 8-12

Published: 11/7/2023

A rivalry between sisters culminates in a fencing duel in this funny and emotional debut graphic novel sure to appeal to readers of Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale.

Sixth grader Lucy loves fantasy novels and is brand-new to middle school. GiGi is the undisputed queen bee of eighth grade (as well as everything else she does). Theyve only got one thing in common: fencing. Oh, and theyre sisters. They never got along super well, but ever since their dad died, it seems like theyre always at each others throats.

When GiGi humiliates Lucy in the cafeteria on the first day of school, Lucy snaps and challenges GiGi to a duel with high sisterly stakes. If GiGi wins, Lucy promises to stay out of GiGis way; if Lucy wins, GiGi will stop teasing Lucy for good. But after their scene in the cafeteria, both girls are on thin ice with the principal and their mom. Lucy stopped practicing fencing after their fencer dad died and will have to get back to fighting form in secret or shell be in big trouble. And GiGi must behave perfectly or risk getting kicked off the fencing team.

As the clock ticks down to the girls fencing bout, the anticipation grows. Their school is divided into GiGi and Lucy factions, complete with t-shirts declaring kids allegiances. Both sisters are determined to triumph. But will winning the duel mean fracturing their family even further?

AUTHOR BIO:

Jessixa Bagley is children’s book author-illustrator with a background in fine art and comics. She has had work featured in publications such asNew American Paintings,The Chicago Reader,Nickelodeon Magazine, andHighlights Magazine.Her first picture book,Boats for Papa,received numerous awards and accolades including the 2016 SCBWI Golden Kite Award for picture book text and a 2016 Washington State Book Award. Her picture bookLaundry Dayreceived a 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Honor Award for writing. Many of her picture books are also Junior Library Guild Selections. In her work, she’s drawn to animals and emotional themes often inspired by her own experiences. Jessixa also teaches and speaks about writing and illustration. She often illustrates for other writers and artistically collaborates with her husband, Aaron Bagley. Jessixa lives in Seattle with her husband and son.

ILLUSTRATOR BIO:

Aaron Bagley is a human man who draws for a living. He likes to draw what he observes (people, boats, cats) and what he experiences (dreams, feelings, life events). His work has been featured inThe Virginia Quarterly Review,The Stranger,The Seattle Weekly,The Seattle Review of Books, and many more. Above all else, Aaron loves collaborating with his wife, Jessixa. Together, they’ve created picture bookVincent Comes Homeand middle grade graphic novelDuel.