It’s All or Nothing, Vale

In this novel in verse, Puerto Rican seventh grader Valentina "Vale" Camacho is a fencing star determined to reclaim her spot as top athlete at her gym after a serious motorbike accident that injured both her and her father. As she battles unpredictable pain and a body that no longer moves the way it used to, she's further unsettled by Myrka, a talented Cuban American newcomer who's taken her place as number one and for whom Vale develops a confusing, unexpected crush—Myrka is cued as lesbian, and the story offers a chaste, heartfelt exploration of same-sex attraction and emerging identity. Blending themes of disability and recovery, Hispanic/Latino cultural identity, and the pressure of an all-or-nothing mindset instilled by her parents, Vale must learn that her worth isn't defined solely by athletic achievement. Told in accessible, emotionally resonant verse, the book also highlights the importance of chosen family and self-acceptance through hardship.