Striking Distance

August 1, 2020
Fencers face a challenge from their coach--learning to work as a team--in this novelized continuation of a sports romance comic series. Kings Row, once underdogs despite being from an elite Connecticut boarding school with a long history of fencing, have won their first match of the year. Despite their potential, they are failing at bonding as a team. Nationally ranked prodigy Seiji doesn't know the first thing about making friends. His roommate, Nicholas, a White scholarship student, feels like an outsider surrounded by his wealthy classmates. White playboy Aiden couldn't care less about anyone on the team except their captain, Harvard, who (according to their coach) needs to learn to prioritize himself once in a while. In the midst of their teamwork training, Harvard awakens to his sexuality, and Aiden battles jealousy to preserve their friendship. Although the romantic subplot includes a contrived scenario of dating lessons, the tension between Harvard and Aiden adds urgency to the story. The queer-affirming bubble of Kings Row drifts between fluffy escapism and realism: While the world imagines a place without hate for queer people, it withholds the same treatment for other differences. Harvard, who is Black, and Seiji, who is Japanese, remark on their experiences with racism. Bullies harass Nicholas for his socio-economic status. After a high-intensity buildup, readers may wish for a clearer resolution of the central romantic drama. Fans of C.S. Pacat's graphic series Fence may wish to reenter this world in novel form. (Romance. 14-18)

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September 1, 2020
Grades 8-11 Coach Williams has her hands full with the boys of the Kings Row fencing team. She knows aren't won with individuals, they're won with teams, but this team isn't clicking yet. Captain Harvard is so eager to think about everybody's needs that he's neglecting his own, while his best friend, Aiden, has broken more guys' hearts than Coach Williams can count. Then there are the freshmen: scholarship-student Nicholas, who has raw talent but no training, and his roommate Seiji, a top-ranked fencer who lacks social skills. While Nicholas and Seiji feel out a tentative friendship?one that involves pranks, well-meaning bros, and some very firm boundaries?Aiden struggles to hide his feelings for Harvard, whose friendship is the only constant in his life. Part sports story, part romance, this novelization of C. S. Pacat's comic series is a laugh-out-loud funny dive into camaraderie and identity, featuring a high-interest but little-seen sport. A satisfying but open ending will leave readers eager for the next installation in this worthy adaptation.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

September 18, 2020

Gr 9 Up-Welcome to Kings Row, where the only thing more exciting than fencing are the boys' funny antics while Coach tries to get them to become an actual team. Austin and Harvard are entering an interesting period in their lifelong friendship (complete with "dating lessons"), Seiji is learning all about pranks and maybe what being a friend means, Eugene is bringing his weightlifting bros around, and Nicholas is just really confused all the time. All of these things build on each other, and humor and romance ensue. In this easy-to-read novel based on the graphic novel series, fans will enjoy revisiting their favorite fencers-each chapter is told from a different boy's perspective, along with a digital illustration of that character. This helps to better show the variety of ethnicities represented, including Black, white, and Japanese American. Brennan plops the reader into the "Fence" universe without a backward look and darts forward with admirable speed; new readers may be slightly lost at first, but will quickly be swept up in the characters' charisma. Heavier subjects are lightly touched upon (racism and classist bullying), but multiple gay characters are widely accepted, free of any drama. In this first installment of a series, romance and comedy compete for top billing in an entertaining read that will please readers looking for lighter fare. VERDICT A solid buy where the graphic novel series is popular, or for libraries looking for a fun book to bump up their LGBTQ+ selections.-Kerri Williams, Center Moriches Free P.L., NY

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