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It's All or Nothing, Vale

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
A poignant novel in verse in which, after a life-changing accident, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion. From the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All.
All these months of staring at the wall?
All these months of feeling weak?
It’s ending—
I’m going back to fencing.
And then it’ll be
like nothing ever happened.
No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale’s thing is fencing. She’s the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was . . . until the accident.
After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it’s much harder than before. Her body doesn’t move the way it used to, and worst of all is the new number one: Myrka. When she sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can’t accept that. But the harder Vale fights to catch up, the more she realizes her injury isn’t the only thing holding her back. If she can’t leave her accident in the past, then what does she have to look forward to?
In this moving novel from the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion and discovers that the sum of a person's achievements doesn’t amount to the whole of them.
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    The publisher provides the following statement about the accessibility of the EPUB file supplied to OverDrive. Experiences may vary across reading systems. After borrowing the book, you may download the EPUB files to read in another reading system.

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    This ebook features mark-up that supports accessibility and enables compatibility with assistive technology. It has been designed to allow display properties to be modified by the reader. The file includes a table of contents, a defined reading order, and ARIA roles to identify key sections and improve the reading experience. A page list and page break locations help readers coordinate with the print edition. Headings allow readers to navigate the ebook quickly by level. Images are well described in conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Colors meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA contrast standards. There are no hazards.

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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      November 4, 2024
      Before enduring a serious leg injury, Puerto Rican seventh grader Valentina “Vale” Mari Camacho was a top-ranked fencer. Now she deals with chronic pain that keeps her from competing as well as she’d like, which often leaves her frustrated, as previous pressure from her parents (Mami “used to tell me second place was the same as last”) resulted in her conflating her self-worth with her fencing skills. Vale’s older brother Manu tries to distract her by introducing her to hobbies such as art and video games, but nothing satisfies her the way fencing used to. Pushing herself to get
      better, Vale attends practice but feels threatened when Cuban American teammate Myrka proves a more formidable opponent than before. As she grapples with jealousy over Myrka’s improved abilities, Vale also contends with budding attraction for her teammate. Fluid verse by Arango (Something Like Home) aptly conveys all the tension, frustration, and confusion plaguing Vale. Despite the support of well-meaning adults, it’s Vale’s peer group that most effectively facilitates her satisfying emotional arc in a narrative that highlights chosen family and the integral part it plays in forming one’s sense of self. Ages 10–14. Agent: Rebecca Eskildsen, Writers House.

    • Kirkus

      Starred review from December 1, 2024
      After an accident, a talented fencer in Virginia struggles to balance recovery and her dreams of becoming a champion. Puerto Rican seventh grader Valentina Mar� 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 meme." 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. (author's note)(Verse fiction. 10-13)

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      Starred review from January 10, 2025

      Gr 5 Up-In Arango's verse novel, seventh grader Valentina (Vale) Camacho Guti�rrez is a nationally ranked fencer and the superstar of her gym. Gym mates accuse her of being too competitive to be a friend, but athletic success is her top priority. A serious leg injury had taken her out, but she is finally back to do what she does best. Vale is devastated when the return to her sport is painful and uncertain, and she is left questioning her own identity. She has the added challenge of newcomer Myrka, who seems to have succeeded her as the star, despite a much less competitive attitude. As she ponders the value in that approach to fencing, and her own growing crush on Myrka, Vale begins to consider what makes her who she is in a new light. Vale is Puerto Rican and Myrka is Cuban; each offers great windows into their cultures. Readers will want to jump in and join the salsa lessons Vale's parents offer to her and Myrka. Themes of friendship and family unfold in a way that many readers will find accessible. And while Vale's struggle with mental health may be familiar to some, others will find it a beautifully depicted introduction. VERDICT Arango's fans will celebrate the opportunity to read another poignant story told in verse; it packs a punch, and is brimming with love and optimism. Recommend to fans of Erin Entrada Kelly, Barbara O'Connor, and Kwame Alexander.-Jill Shepard

      Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      Starred review from January 1, 2025
      Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* After a car accident leaves Vale in physical therapy, a lot of pain, and emotional turmoil, the young Latina girl must decide if it's possible--and reasonable--to return to her life as a competitive fencer. Arango's quick, vibrant verse lunges and parries Vale's story along as she navigates dual parental goals in regards to her recovery, her own chronic pain, and her first crush . . . on the new (maybe better-than-her) fencer on the team, Myrka. This juxtaposed exploration invites the reader into Vale's mind and heart, to feel her emotional and physical pain as well as the confusion they produce. With a lot of fencing terminology skillfully woven throughout, this middle-grade novel in verse feels accessible and emotionally vulnerable, but the sports element will no doubt engage more reluctant readers in addition to lovers of novels in verse. While not quite as emotionally gut wrenching as Arango's other work, this tale of a tween struggling with chronic pain, the question of disability, and a queer awakening is an important addition to library shelves and provides an uplifting addition to Arango's backlist. For fans of Lisa Fipps, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, and Lilliam Rivera, this novel promises to be the rapier to the heart the reader needs to take control of their own choices.

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • The Horn Book

      May 1, 2025
      After suffering serious injuries in a motorbike accident, Valentina Camacho is determined to resume fencing and qualify for the Summer Nationals. As seventh grade begins, Vale is motivated to get back into training ("This leg thing? / Just a tiny obstacle for me to conquer / on the path to being / a worldwide champ"), but her recovery is slow going. She is frustrated by pain flare-ups and concerned about what classmates will think if she limps or uses a cane and how she will be perceived if she is no longer the champion athlete she once was. Her competitiveness leads to tension with other fencers, including her ex-best friend, and jeopardizes a nascent friendship and crush on new student Myrka. Secondary characters include Vale's parents and teenage brother, who offer different modes of support, while a growing friendship with a classmate outside the fencing world provides genuine understanding and respite from all the pressures. Arango's accessible verse strikes at Vale's emotional core as she considers her worth and identity in the face of her challenges. Chronic pain, disability, and finding the autonomy to self-identify are prominent themes, and the depiction of a brown-skinned, queer girl in the world of fencing is noteworthy. Myrka, who is Cuban, and Vale's Puerto Rican family communicate bilingually throughout the book. Jessica Agudelo

      (Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

    • The Horn Book

      January 1, 2025
      After suffering serious injuries in a motorbike accident, Valentina Camacho is determined to resume fencing and qualify for the Summer Nationals. As seventh grade begins, Vale is motivated to get back into training ("This leg thing? / Just a tiny obstacle for me to conquer / on the path to being / a worldwide champ"), but her recovery is slow going. She is frustrated by pain flare-ups and concerned about what classmates will think if she limps or uses a cane and how she will be perceived if she is no longer the champion athlete she once was. Her competitiveness leads to tension with other fencers, including her ex-best friend, and jeopardizes a nascent friendship and crush on new student Myrka. Secondary characters include Vale's parents and teenage brother, who offer different modes of support, while a growing friendship with a classmate outside the fencing world provides genuine understanding and respite from all the pressures. Arango's accessible verse strikes at Vale's emotional core as she considers her worth and identity in the face of her challenges. Chronic pain, disability, and finding the autonomy to self-identify are prominent themes, and the depiction of a brown-skinned, queer girl in the world of fencing is noteworthy. Myrka, who is Cuban, and Vale's Puerto Rican family communicate bilingually throughout the book.

      (Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

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