IT'S ALL OR NOTHING, VALE

After an accident, a talented fencer in Virginia struggles to balance recovery and her dreams of becoming a champion.

Puerto Rican seventh grader Valentina Marí Camacho can’t wait to fence again. After she and Papi were in a serious motorbike accident, anticipating fencing again was the only way Vale endured doctors, surgeries, and “the complete rearranging / of [her] life.” But her return four months later is far from triumphant. Unpredictable flares of pain make previously effortless moves challenging, and even worse, Cuban American newcomer Myrka Marerro, who’s cued lesbian, has taken her place as top fencer. But, Vale explains, fencing is “what keeps me me.” If Vale’s not the best, who is she? Her parents have always pushed her to win. But now, Mami treats her like she’s fragile—though Papi insists she’s fine, causing arguments between her parents. Her older brother, Luis Manuel, suggests other hobbies, but Vale and fencing are inseparable. But pain—and Vale’s growing crush on Myrka—risk thwarting her plan to beat her rival. Vale’s vulnerable, angry free verse narration eschews overused disability storylines, intricately exploring issues including chronic pain, perfectionism, and parental expectations. Vale’s ambivalence about identifying as disabled is particularly well expressed. Her relationships with her family are realistically nuanced, and non-Spanish speakers will understand the occasional lines of Spanish dialogue through context. In her acknowledgments, Arango explains that she drew on her and her husband’s experiences with chronic pain when writing the story.

Moving and insightful.