I really enjoyed this fencing graphic novel. Young readers will certainly relate to its theme of searching for a place to belong. The family dynamic was handled very well and with care. Definitely recommend.

Love, love, look very! Hands down one of the best middle grade graphic novels I have read in awhile. This is such a fun story with so many wonderful messages. The story shows friendships changing/ending as kids age, trying new activities and meet new people and have new experiences, making new friends, divorce, difficult relationships with parents, and prioritizing mental health. So much good stuff! As an anxious person who was a child of divorce and has a complicated relationship with a manipulative mother, I related so much with Gracie. Seeing her find an outlet in fencing and know that she has a support system and can only control her own actions was not only lovely, but felt a bit healing. I cannot wait to have my kid read this one, it’s going to be so helpful so kids while also being entertaining.

On Guard! by Cassidy Wasserman is a phenomenal middle grade graphic novel that tackles some very difficult situations in a beautiful and meaningful way. Grace is a 7th grader who is going through a tremendous amount all at once: her best friend has moved on to another friend group, she needs to figure out how to meet new people and make new friends, and she's navigating the messy divorce of her parents. Some scenes are hard to read, as they're realistic and sad, especially seeing how Grace's mom treats her, but as readers continue they will gain a sense of hope as they see Grace supported by her amazing dad and her new friends. In the end, Grace sees just how much support she has. A truly great read!

Loved the art style! Definitely will be a good match for readers who are interested in Raina Telgemeier since it's a similar style. While the story could get quite serious at times, it depicts the chaos of middle school very well from parental relationships to friendships and shows the complicatedness that it encompasses.

Love love love! Wonderful characters and character development, a super relatable story for tweens and young teens, and FENCING! (the best sport!) The art is super dynamic and Grace is just the most wonderful main character. The cast of characters is diverse throughout as well. I think this is a great graphic novel, especially for those Raina Telgemeier fans out there.

On Guard follows Grace as she finds her way after a messy friendship break-up. Prior to the events of the novel, Grace's best friend decides to end their friendship, throwing Grace's world into a tailspin, especially because they're in all the same classes. This is not helped by the recent divorce of her parents and her strained relationship with her mom. (Bad moms were all over traditional middle grade novels in 2024--maybe 2025 is graphic novels' year of bad moms.) Grace decides to join her school's fencing team and makes new connections.

On Guard seems to be the first in an upcoming series (The Marshall Middle School series). The title indicates that later books will follow other students at Grace's school.

On Guard does a good job of handling tough topics (the mom's behavior) and giving enough of a fencing explanation for students unfamiliar with the sport to follow along. It is one I will be purchasing for my library.

A wonderful middle school story of family and friend relationships and the complications that arise with both. Finding yourself and learning what you can and can’t control is a big theme of this graphic novel.

"On Guard!: A Marshall Middle School Graphic Novel" is a fantastic read! It beautifully blends humor, drama, and the challenges of middle school life. The characters are well-developed, and the story is engaging from start to finish. I could relate to the main character with having a difficult relationship with her mom. It's nice to see that not all mother daughter relationship are good. That not being close with your mother is okay and there's nothing wrong with myself as a person. This graphic novel artwork is vibrant and adds a lot of depth to the narrative. It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys graphic novels with a strong, relatable story and memorable characters.

“I can’t control my opponent’s moves. I can only control my own!”
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Grace has been sad all summer since her ex-BFF told her she didn’t want to be friends anymore. Starting a new year with no friends is hard, but on top of that her parents just got divorced and the custody issues are weighing heavily on Grace. Joining the fencing team starts a new chapter for Grace as she makes new friends, finds her passion and learns to stand up for herself against her mother, who struggles to truly be a mother at all.
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This MG graphic novel will connect with so many tweens and teens who have their own complicated relationships with parents, divorce and/or custody arrangements. It felt truly authentic since lots of it came from the author’s own childhood. I loved the artwork and will add this to my middle school library when it releases June 10!

CW: divorce (theme), domestic violence/assault

On the surface this is a graphic novel about a MG girl finding new friendships and interests after she and her best friend from elementary school part ways (very much against the wishes of the main character). On a deeper level, however, this is an at times heartbreaking novel about a young girl realizing that her mother mostly sees her as an occasional accessory to her life -- someone to be bragged about to friends and on Instagram, but otherwise ignored or constantly critiqued. Younger readers might not fully get the mother-daughter plot, but adults will see great depth.

Grace has a lot going on - her parents are getting divorced, she lost her best friend and she's having trouble finding new friends. She starts to find her people and her voice as a member of the fencing team. Fans of Raina Teglemeir and Kayla Miller will enjoy.

A well written first book. I liked the balance between school and personal life, and man, that mom was incredibly cruel.

Cassidy Wasserman's graphic novel, On Guard!, captures the messy realities of middle school with humor and heart. Grace, our relatable protagonist, enters 7th grade grappling with her parents' divorce and the loss of her best friend. Feeling adrift, she stumbles upon the school's fencing team during lunch, drawn to their dynamic practices. When it is time to sign up for an after school club, Grace decides to try fencing. She learns so much, and she meets new friends. Her home life is still hectic with trying to navigate between two households and her hostile relationship with her mom. Wasserman's engaging artwork brings Grace's struggles to life, making her a character readers will easily connect with. On Guard! is a heartwarming story about resilience, finding your own path, and the power of friendship to heal.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading “On Guard,” and I think that will resonate with a lot of kids. The main character is trying to land back on her feet after her best friend “dumped” her and her parents are going through a messy divorce. What makes this book stand out is its authenticity and its focus on the main characters emotions and feelings throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC of On Guard!!
5 / 5 ⭐

Going into On Guard, I expected a divorce-centric coming of age story. It turned out to be an approachable look at growing apart, finding yourself, and breaking cycles of abuse. It says more graphic novels about Grace, our main character, are upcoming, and I would read them in a heartbeat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun graphic novel and was a great read. This story was fun and funny. This will make a great read for kids.

I really enjoyed On Guard. There were several reasons but I'm going to tackle the most important one first. The portrayal of mothers and daughters was particularly poignant. Like Wasserman, I have felt that the portrayals of mothers and daughters in the media are usually positive. These portrayals can leave those without positive relationships feeling strange. It can make them feel like there is something wrong with them.

My own relationship with my mother is rocky on a good day. I would have loved a graphic novel when I was a teenager to show me that this can be normal. Another thing that this novel tackled was emotional immaturity of the mother.

This was shown in the novel through Grace's mother putting her interests ahead of her child's negatively. At one point, she did something physically violent to Grace. Her mother didn't talk about after the fact until Grace revealed it to her father. I want to point out how well this graphic novel handled the message.

It skillfully reinforced that this isn't okay for parents to do. I think a lot of kids may be in situations like Grace's where parents aren't out right abusive. But, one or both parent, can be very toxic. They need media to show them that it isn't their fault and that some adults are safe to talk to.

I loved the art style and the text to art ratio. The characters were all very engaging and helped to further along the plot. I especially enjoyed the way Grace and her father interacted. They shared interests and ways of looking at the world. I also thought that Grace's new friend Asher was a nice addition to the plot. I love seeing non-binary characters in literature. They provided such warmth and help for Grace when she needed it.

I'd recommend this book to any young teen, especially those having trouble with their mothers. Five stars and I hope to read from this author again. Check out On Guard when it releases June 10th!

Grace's story was captivating from the very beginning. A new child of divorce struggling to maintain her home life, school life, and tackling a new sport. This book made me want to fence! I enjoyed it so much and look forward to more Grace stories in the future.

On Guard! is an incredibly sweet middle grade graphic novel about Grace. Grace is a 7th grader who is dealing with her parents' divorce at home and friend drama at school. Fencing becomes her respite from it all. I really enjoyed this one! The characters are well-developed, and it does not shy away from the really hard parts of divorce and family life. Grace's life is not at all perfect, but that happens and it is good for kiddos to see other stories like theirs. I also loved Grace's new friend group! They were fantastic and a super fun addition.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Cassidy Wasserman for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

thanks to netgalley for the arc!

caught myself smiling while reading this…. i wish i had friends like that in middle school

super cute middle grade story and a quick read! GORGEOUS art too