Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fencing star copes with injury, crush in moving verse novel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Seventh grader Valentina returns to school and fencing class after four months of recovery following a serious accident she and her dad suffered on his motor bike. She's determined to get back in shape for competition and winning medals, keeping in mind her dad's longtime advice: IT'S ALL OR NOTHING, VALE. She has always bought into that idea, along with her parents, that you should either devote all your energy to being the best in your sport, or give it up. But with her "bad" leg still stiff and in pain from the accident, Vale wonders if she'll ever get back to the shape she was in pre-accident, and wonders who she'll be if she loses her identity of a fencing champ. She fears her mom doesn't see "that fencing isn't just a hobby / I can pick up and put down— / It's who I am. / It's what keeps me me." Losing her best friend, finding a new one, and realizing she's developing a crush on a fencing teammate she wants to hate further complicate her recovery but also open her up to new possibilities.
Is It Any Good?
This moving, nuanced novel in verse examines what it means to be a competitive athlete whose world is upended by injury and loss of identity. It's All or Nothing, Vale explores the self-doubt, confusion, and struggle of someone in physical recovery who's processing the psychological implications of potentially losing the sport that's consumed her for years. Author Andrea Beatriz Arango has a keen ear for a middle schooler's language and abundant insight into Vale's mixed-up feelings. "Every time I try to talk about / what I feel / deep deep / it's like my mouth gets zippered shut."
All the people in Vale's world—her well-meaning mom and dad, her artist brother, her physical therapist, her coach, her new best friend, her new crush—struggle in a realistic way with how to be supportive and honest. No stereotypes of pushy sports parents and demanding coaches here, but an acknowledgement that there can be a downside to striving for excellence at the exclusion of everything else in a young person's life. Vale's high school brother's unwavering support and continuous effort to draw her out and gently offer wise advice is especially endearing. And her chaste crush on Myrka is handled with delicacy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the sport of fencing is portrayed in It's All or Nothing, Vale. Did you know anything about the sport before reading this book? What sounds most interesting about it?
Can you relate to the pressure young athletes experience? How do you handle competition? What experience have you had being on a team?
Vale tries to sort out her feelings in her head, but when someone asks her what she's feeling, she finds it difficult to answer honestly. Have you ever felt that way? What's hard about revealing how you're feeling? How important is communication in relationships with friends and family members?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Curiosity , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : February 11, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 272
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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