I'm always excited to see more sports books written for middle grade, especially for lesser represented activities and characters. The premise of a young Puerto Rican girl who is recovering from a leg injury and desperate to regain her old form as the youth champion in her fencing class is an easy sell. And Arango's easy "novel in verse" can lure in reluctant readers.

While I don't think it hits the marvelous synergy that Kwame Alexander's "The Crossover" did for basketball lovers and readers who weren't sure they liked poetry, this is a solid read in that genre/format. Vale is a prickly and sympathetic narrator, and her chronic pain struggles are well presented. My favorite dynamic was with her more laid back brother Manu, who speaks as the voice of balance and healing. The sections where they discuss things and the growing relationship with Amanda seemed to flow better in the story of a girl learning to accept she may never be physically where she used to be more than the fencing parts.

As for the fencing aspect, it did feel a little under represented compared to the chronic pain and sudden discovery of a crush on her rival, Myrka. What was there was compelling, but I wouldn't promote it as a fencing book with realistic complications, more as a disability issue book where fencing is one of the conflicts to be addressed. I really did resonate with the frustration Vale felt about not being disabled enough for wheelchair fencing but too disabled to be treated like she used to be in her fencing team. It was the most raw sections in terms of writing. As is this comparison, which really did more to showcase the Myrka rivalry than any other part of the writing:

"Amanda is safe.
She's not a fencer.
But Myrka can never be anything but a blade--
the sharp, painful reminder
that who I used to be
is not who I am,
and that who I am now
might never be enough."

Frank, painful, and to the point. I really felt that the complicated rivals-to-friends was messy enough without the prospective dating angle, but it's nice to see that representation being shown. Perhaps it's that a lot of the charged dialogue is in Spanish when she's speaking to Myrka or her parents. I could discern enough from the English context and rudimentary Spanish to get the gist of most of it but I hope when this book is published they could at least include a translation in the back of the book for kids who don't read Spanish and would like to know exactly what was said. I like the use of Spanish as being a strong part of Vale's life and wouldn't suggest it be modified in text, but details like the Puerto Rican dances and song lyrics being expanded upon could be a really great introduction point for children who do not have natural exposure to the culture.

4.5⭐️ Wow what a powerful story
I am thankful to have gotten the eARC for free from Netgalley and Random House Childrens so I can leave my voluntary review.

I had never read a novel
In verse before recently reading Me: Moth and really
Enjoyed it. So o thought I would give this book, also in verse, a try.

I can honestly say that this style of writing is really powerful. It does something to what the author is trying to convey. Maybe it’s because it’s streamlines the prose making it very targeted?

Anyway, you really felt like you were experiencing the FMC, Vale, and her coming to terms with her injury as well as her body. I think k it is a must read for tween and teens as so many will be able to identify with it. It’s also a very quick read as well.

Lastly I love the representation displayed in various different aspects.
My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books

⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.

I read this book in a few hours. I kept going, This is the the middle grade version of 25 21, the Korean drama about fencing and growing up. I love 25 21, which means I loved this book. The author knows how to pace and use character voice to her advantage, really strategic. I was waiting for the Pret chapter but wasn't there alas. Overall, really nice book about sports, disability, and queerness. I know kids will enjoy it.

Very quick and pleasant verse novel read with a wonderful cover! I found this reflection on the pressures experienced by a young and injured athlete to be pretty accurate and compelling.

Valentina/Vale is finally recovered enough from a serious injury to get back to fencing. Vale is always been number one and her whole identity is fencing. Her parents, who pushed her to be #1, now baby her and her leg. When she starts back, Myrka seems to have “replaced” her for the top spot. Myrka is not driven like Vale and all of this bugs her. Vale tries hard to comeback, but her leg doesn’t always cooperate. She starts to like Myrka, which complicates matters. This is the story of Vale finding herself again and deciding what really matters.

This book brought up many hard topics is a very appropriate manner and very well done. I enjoyed that it was a verse novel. I thought overall it was a good book. I liked how it had Spanish though out.

At various points in the MG novel the protagonist, a queer and hyper competitive girl of Puerto Rican descent, questions if non athletes can understand the mind and priorities of athletes. By the end of the novel I was wondering the same thing, because Vale’s obsessive need to win (which we are repeatedly told precedes her accident) felt uncomfortable and strange. While I loved the diverse representation and the very tender exploration of Vale’s slow acceptance that her value is not fully measured out in wins and losses, I really struggled to connect with Vale and her parents (seriously, what adult tells a child that second place is just another word for losing, much less a parent to their own child?!) and spent most of the book wondering how no one had spotted something was seriously wrong with this child other than her (admittedly awful) ex-best friend. I really hope this isn’t the pressure athletes, particularly child athletes, put on themselves. It is, as demonstrated here over and over, crushing.

From the author: “Puerto Rican kids can be athletes. They can be disabled. They can be queer. And I’m thrilled to share a middle grade story that explores all those interconnected parts of who Valentina is.”
🤺
Valentina Camacho was the top fencer at her gym until an accident hurts her leg, making it hard to walk most days, let alone fence. Months later she attempts to return to the gym only to find Myrka, a peppy girl who’s taken over her top spot. Vale doesn’t want to like her, but Myrka’s positivity and friendliness makes it hard to ignore her. While Vale struggles with her return to fencing, she’s also dealing with feelings for Myrka and wondering if she were to quit fencing, would it end her identity.
🤺
This MG novel in verse deals with so many topics in an age-appropriate way and with care and consideration. Vale’s resilience and journey to find who she is separate from fencing was endearing. We, as readers, see her pain and struggle throughout most of the #book and feel deeply for her fight. Her crush on Myrka is sweet and innocent and didn’t deal with any of the trauma that can come with coming out, but rather automatic acceptance from everyone in her life. This novel was moving and authentic—I loved the Spanish throughout and know my middle school students will love it when it releases February 11.

CW: accident, physical injury, ableism, bullying