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

I picked up the book, drawn by its catchy title and captivating illustration, and I’m so glad I did. She has now become my favorite author. This book resonated deeply with my introverted thoughts and wove them beautifully throughout its chapters. Once you start reading, it’s impossible to put down until the very last word. It leaves you with much to ponder, yet a sense of peace from the answers it offers. It’s a delightful read, so skillfully written that you step into Grace's shoes, with something profoundly relatable echoing within you.

"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.