Published: 2023
Author: Jessixa Bagley | Illustrator: Aaron Bagley
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel / Realistic Fiction / Sports Drama
Audience: Grades 5–9 (Middle School & Junior High)
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: Duel
Content/Trigger Warnings: Paternal death, intense grief, sibling bullying, and middle school social exclusion.
Themes: Sibling Rivalry, Shared Grief, Forgiveness, Fencing, Structural Family Healing.
Review by: Heather Kent
Publisher’s Summary
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). They’ve only got one thing in common: fencing. Oh, and their sisters. They never got along super well, but ever since their dad died, it seems like they’re always at each other’s 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 GiGi’s 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 she’ll 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?
Review
This emotionally resonant graphic novel beautifully depicts the turbulent journey of two sisters, GiGi and Lucy, as they navigate the standard social challenges of middle school while simultaneously coping with the profound, devastating loss of their father.
Through their contrasting school experiences, the story takes a deep, unvarnished look at the complex theme of sibling dynamics. It illustrates both the persistent irritation and the quiet, underlying support that is naturally inherent in sisterly relationships. As the girls clash on the school strip, the narrative highlights how the exact same tragedy can manifest completely differently in two people: Lucy completely abandons fencing because it reminds her too heavily of their late father, while GiGi pours her entire identity into the sport to feel closer to his memory.
As they struggle through their respective personal issues and individual expressions of family grief, the novel focuses heavily on the themes of family bonds, mutual forgiveness, and the long, non-linear process of emotional healing in the aftermath of a domestic tragedy. The cartoon illustrations by Aaron Bagley do an excellent job of bringing the kinetic energy of fencing matches to life while capturing the subtle, facial vulnerabilities of the characters.
The story balances heavy emotional notes with lighthearted, highly entertaining school subplots—like the student body dividing itself into official “Team GiGi” and “Team Lucy” factions with custom t-shirts. It is a fantastic, highly relatable choice for graphic novel fans that handles grief with a gentle touch.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Social-Emotional Learning & Counseling (Comparing Grief Responses):
- Activity Idea: “The Two Sides of the Strip.” Lead a classroom discussion on how people process loss differently. Have students map out Lucy’s avoidance strategy (stopping fencing) versus GiGi’s overachievement strategy (perfectionism on the team). Talk about how misunderstanding someone’s grief can lead to accidental conflict, and brainstorm healthy coping strategies for families navigating structural transitions.
- Physical Education & Literary Metaphor (The Basics of Fencing):
- Activity Idea: “En Garde, Focus!” Introduce students to the basic terminology and visual structure of fencing (strip, foil, parry, riposte, lunge). Have them read a sports sequence from the graphic novel and write a short paragraph analyzing how the illustrator uses motion lines and paneled layouts to capture the lightning-fast, strategic nature of the bout.
- Creative Writing & Graphic Design (The Faction T-Shirt Challenge):
- Activity Idea: “Designing Sibling Perspectives.” In the book, the school splits into factions with custom t-shirts. Divide the class into groups and have them design two distinct symbolic t-shirt graphics—one representing Lucy’s point of view (fantasy novels, resilience) and one representing GiGi’s (perfection, high expectations), writing a short paragraph detailing how the artwork reflects each sister’s hidden internal feelings.
