A quirky, fast-paced urban fantasy by esteemed author Jane Yolen
Aliera Carstairs just doesn’t fit in. She’s alw... read full description
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Mar 09, 2011
L11-Sharri
rated it: 
This is a graphic novel about a girl named Aliera. She loves fencing and her mom bought her a foil at a tag sale (a foil is a sword used in fencing and Aliera is adamant about it being called a weapon). Aliera is on her own and doesn’t fit into any group in high school. She seems fine being alone until she meets a new boy in school named Avery. They become lab partners and Aliera thinks he is the cutest boy in the whole school. Avery begins to take interest in her new, ruby-handled foil tha
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Mar 31, 2011
Jennifer
rated it: 
Loved: the concept (tough smart girl who fences is charmed by new pretty boy who genuinely seems to like her) the artwork (blue-scale Ghost World-ish...until the fairies show up) the fencing, the authentic portrayal of an adolescent crush and the New York City setting.
Wasn't So Crazy About: the supernatural twist at the end, which felt clunky to me and kind of undermined the awesomeness of the first half. More...
Wasn't So Crazy About: the supernatural twist at the end, which felt clunky to me and kind of undermined the awesomeness of the first half. More...
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Feb 15, 2011
Mary Ann
rated it:
The tweens and young teens I know eat up graphic novels faster than candy, devouring each one I bring to the library. They especially like graphic novels that combine fantasy elements, action and intrigue. It's no wonder that they have loved Foiled, by Jane Yolen. As one student said to me yesterday, "I love stories where it's just a regular kid who discovers that the world around them isn't quite as regular as they thought it was." That fits this story perfectly. Nothing is quite as r
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Oct 26, 2011
Patrice
rated it:
The 'activity' here from my shelves is fencing, as the title suggests. Foiled makes an abrupt change after the 5th chapter from a high school-drama-I-really-like-this-boy-a-lot-but-I-am-having-lots-of-issues-right-now focus to a fantasy-oriented tale. The reason for me only giving this title three stars likes there; I strongly liked the first five chapters, and the main characters inner turmoil and pining over the hot new guy at school. The writing is solid, the storyline was appropriate, and th
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Oct 26, 2011
Shazza
rated it:
First off: Jane Yolen has written a manga. :D Be still my heart.
Aliera Carstairs is your typical teenage heroine - she doesn't fit in at school, her best friend is her cousin, who is homebound due to illness, and she's a fencer, preferring a foil to a rapier or an epee. The story is told from her point of view, and starts when Aliera's mother buys her a practice foil, one with a fake ruby glued to the hilt.
Aliera is a confused young woman. She wants to fit in, but More...
Aliera Carstairs is your typical teenage heroine - she doesn't fit in at school, her best friend is her cousin, who is homebound due to illness, and she's a fencer, preferring a foil to a rapier or an epee. The story is told from her point of view, and starts when Aliera's mother buys her a practice foil, one with a fake ruby glued to the hilt.
Aliera is a confused young woman. She wants to fit in, but More...
Jun 17, 2011
Aliera Carstairs (What a great character name!) blends in at high school, but she is a stand-out fencer. So good, in fact, that her coach hints that she has a chance at Nationals. Aliera's life is a steady routine of school, fencing practice, and Saturday afternoons of RPGs with her cousin, Caroline. Her routine is disrupted, though, when she's paired up in Biology with the gorgeous and charming Avery Castle. Aliera had never been interested in boys, but Avery gives her a jolt of electricity
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May 20, 2011
Leslie
rated it:
I wavered between 'it's okay' to 'i liked it.' I think I set my expectations a bit high because it was Yolen, and because I wasn't aware that it reads as a Book One.
"I came away not sure what to say about Jane Yolen’s Foiled. (Natalya had the much more readily enthusiastic response after she took her turn with the book.) Foiled was good. A book one. A beginning. I think this comic will appeal to those who follow the urban fantasy genre, especially the young and female contingent. More...
"I came away not sure what to say about Jane Yolen’s Foiled. (Natalya had the much more readily enthusiastic response after she took her turn with the book.) Foiled was good. A book one. A beginning. I think this comic will appeal to those who follow the urban fantasy genre, especially the young and female contingent. More...
Mar 06, 2011
Deb
rated it:
Jane Yolen has written about a bazillion books, everything from picture books to amazing novels (like Briar Rose and The Devil’s Arithmetic). In Foiled, we meet Aliera, a champion fencer who is also a bit of a loner. Her life has been school and fencing. Then, when she is in tenth grade, she meets Avery Castle, the most beautiful boy, but a boy who is not as he seems. They become biology lab partners (hello Twilight). And when he asks her on a date, well, it doesn’t go as planned, and as this is
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Sep 17, 2010
Anthony
rated it:
My opion about the book that Aliera pretty good at the fencing reason also the defender of the Queen.she also that when meet new boy name avery she hestied before she talk with him and they also hit off all time.she always say no to everybody that who ask her about the weapon to hold it.
The book about the foiled girl name Aliera who always keep other kid from hold her weapon. Everytime she play fencing she got lot better when play with the fencing. the new boy name is the Avery she More...
The book about the foiled girl name Aliera who always keep other kid from hold her weapon. Everytime she play fencing she got lot better when play with the fencing. the new boy name is the Avery she More...
Aug 26, 2010
Lars
rated it:
I know Jane Yolen from 'The Devil's Arithmetic.' She's also the author of one of my favorite picture books, 'Owl Moon,' and the outstanding chapter book, 'Children of the Wolf.' She's quality.
I know First Second publishing, too. You can't go wrong with their collection of graphic novels. There are two spectacularly great ones, 'The Photographer' and 'Alan's War,' but I also really like quite a few of the other titles. Checking out their web site, I found out that their editori More...
I know First Second publishing, too. You can't go wrong with their collection of graphic novels. There are two spectacularly great ones, 'The Photographer' and 'Alan's War,' but I also really like quite a few of the other titles. Checking out their web site, I found out that their editori More...
Jun 24, 2010
Nicola
rated it:
Reason for Reading: Jane Yolen is a wonderful author, so versatile! though I am partial to her mythological/folk tales works. Seeing that she had written a graphic novel I was so excited to read this.
Aliera Carstairs is a loner who doesn't fit in at school with any of the cliques; she doesn't even stand out enough to get picked on by anybody. She's rather a broody thing but she does have one passion and that is fencing. Everyday after school she goes to fencing class and is told she More...
Aliera Carstairs is a loner who doesn't fit in at school with any of the cliques; she doesn't even stand out enough to get picked on by anybody. She's rather a broody thing but she does have one passion and that is fencing. Everyday after school she goes to fencing class and is told she More...
Jun 04, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
I liked this book a lot, particularly the artwork, which was sort of a cross between manga (lots of big eyes) and more American graphic novel style. The color palette was interesting, and when we found out that the character is color-blind, it made a lot of sense and added to the atmosphere.
Two objections, though. First, Aliera kept saying she was hopelessly attracted to Avery, but I just didn't buy it. He kept doing weird and unattractive things, which she had no problem pointing ou More...
Two objections, though. First, Aliera kept saying she was hopelessly attracted to Avery, but I just didn't buy it. He kept doing weird and unattractive things, which she had no problem pointing ou More...
May 15, 2010
Eva
rated it:
This feels a bit like Holly Black's "Good Neighbors" graphic novel series (Kin and Kith so far), but for a younger audience. The artwork has a perky, manga-esque style that is quite different from Ted Naifeh's gothic, edgy drawings in Good Neighbors, and the story line is not nearly so dark. In fact, there really isn't much plot here at all; readers won't learn much about the importance of Aliera's ruby-topped weapon or why she and her family are Defenders or what Avery's role in all t
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Apr 29, 2010
Cindy
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Fencing is Aliera’s life. Every day she goes to school then heads to fencing practice. She even fences on weekends when she’s not visiting her disabled cousin. Fencing makes her feel strong, and she’s good at it. She takes her fencing teacher’s lessons seriously, particularly the one that says to guard her heart. That’s why she resists when cute, popular Avery starts to show an interest in her. But since he’s her lab partner in school she can’t avoid him forever.
Foiled by Jane Yolen More...
Foiled by Jane Yolen More...
Jul 20, 2010
Christi
rated it:
Summary: Aliera is a young girl in high school and very skilled in fencing. Each chapter in this graphic novel is titled with a term from the fencing match. Although Aliera may be a gifted fencer, she lacks confidence in other areas of her life such as academics, girl friends, and boys. When she develops a crush on a boy in one of her classes, she comes to find out that she is capable of much more than just fencing. Through her discovery, she becomes more confident in herself and her purpose in
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Mar 11, 2011
It is so hard to find books about my favorite sport, fencing. I enjoyed this graphic novel, despite the fact that it is written for a younger audience. I could relate to the main character's incredible skill and her drive and ambition. Her "other life" as a RPGer with her cousin was also enjoyable to read. Playing a part - for Aliera, she is a warrior princess in her D&D-like game - makes her both like herself and unlike herself. This is another hobby which is often misrepresented and
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Mar 08, 2011
Carmelo
rated it: 
This Book was about a girl named Aleria, who is color blinded. She loves to fence. Shes not sure where she belongs. She goes to High school where she meets this charming guy who is a chik magnet at the high school, but he has looks for Aleria. They become friend and get to know each other. At the end Aleria discovers she is a defender of this fantasy planet, that she doesnt know much about.Cstle that liked her, is an oger thats been taking contol of the fantasy planet Aleria is defending. Aleria
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Sep 06, 2010
Marcie
rated it: 
I read half of this when I was subbing in a middle school and had to go to Barnes and Noble to finish it. I remember thinking as I read the first part how like Twilight the plot was. I'm not sure why I felt compelled to finish it, as it is obvious that this is the first of a series. Since I love Jane Yolen I really wanted to love it, but I just couldn't. I noticed B&N had it in the adult graphic novels, not even the Young Adult or kids. I don't think I'd be comfortable with it below 7th grad
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Jan 31, 2011
Greyweather
rated it:
The story of her 'real' life got short circuited when the fantasy story was introduced, but the fantasy story is inadequate. It feels like I only got half a story.
http://www.bscreview.com/2010/05/foiled-...
http://www.bscreview.com/2010/05/foiled-...
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Jun 16, 2010
Coral
rated it:
This graphic novel is about a high school girl who is an avid fencer. She feels she doesn't fit in socially, but focuses on her sport and spending time with her cousin. Things begin to change for her when her mother finds her a new practice fencing foil at a yard sale, a new, cute boy becomes her lab partner at school, and she begins to see color even though she has always been colorblind.
I enjoyed the strong female character and the supernatural elements, but the narrative style was More...
I enjoyed the strong female character and the supernatural elements, but the narrative style was More...
Apr 22, 2010
Julie
rated it:
The main character, whose name I've already forgotten, is a fencer. Her mother picks up a practice weapon for her at a sale, so it's real cheap. But it has this weird ruby attached to the hilt. Soon enough, she's putting on her fencing mask, seeing weird things, and fighting them with her weapon (you don't call it a sword in fencing, I guess).
It was an interesting little story. I could like the main character and I learned things about fencing that I didn't know before.
Th More...
It was an interesting little story. I could like the main character and I learned things about fencing that I didn't know before.
Th More...
Jun 14, 2010
Caitlin
rated it:
This is a quick read, and is pretty entertaining, but not very substantive. I loved the imaginative illustrations, and I thought it was a nice touch that when the story took a turn, color entered the pages. I liked the character of Aliera very much--definitely a well-written girl hero. I have to say though, that this story didn't have much in terms of adventure or major events. But as a beginning to a series, I think it does a nice job of giving the reader the background and setting the scene fo
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Oct 27, 2011
Christine
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Aleira is on her way to becoming an Olympic fencer, but outside the sport, she’s not nearly as sure of herself. Her mother found her an epee at a garage sale that has a cheap jewel glued to the end. When a cute guy in her class notices her, she falls for him but isn’t sure she can trust him, especially when he keeps trying to take her epee. The story takes a major fantasy left turn near the end that sets up a possible sequel. I found the story fast-paced and fun. If you like this book, try Steel
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Apr 15, 2010
aaron
rated it:
this is a graphic novel by jane yolen that centers around a high school girl by the name of aliera. she is a fairly nondescript girl whose passion and talent lies in the art of fencing. she receives a foil (the fencing sword) from her mother who picked it up at a yard sale and the fun begins. she is drawn to a new boy in her school by the name of avery. as the novel continues we find that the sword may not be a simple as first thought and that the world around aliera isn't either. in true g
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Aug 07, 2010
Brenda
rated it:
This is my graphic novel choice for the book group. I found this quite interesting, The story was quite typical, girl doesn't fit in, does some crazy stuff to impress a boy, turns into a super hero kind of thing. I did love the vehicle of fencing that Yolen chose, unique and interesting given the ending. As this was my first graphic novel since childhood comic books, I found it quite challenging. I spend so much time with words that I had to force myself to slow down and look at the story
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Mar 21, 2010
Yesha
rated it:
Intriguing graphic novel about a spunky teen girl in NYC who is an avid and expert fencer and an awesome defender of the heart.
definitely worth looking into – a fast read, amazing art by Mike Cavallero, and well-produced book you will enjoy holding in your hands.
It’s the type of book where, when you finish, you go back to the beginning again, because the aha moment you have at the end illuminates all that happened before, where you may not have gotten it, but now it makes sen More...
definitely worth looking into – a fast read, amazing art by Mike Cavallero, and well-produced book you will enjoy holding in your hands.
It’s the type of book where, when you finish, you go back to the beginning again, because the aha moment you have at the end illuminates all that happened before, where you may not have gotten it, but now it makes sen More...
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Oct 25, 2010
Polly
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Sep 24, 2010
Nick
rated it:
Good, but not great. I found the realistic part to be excellent, but the fantasy to be somewhat weak.
I also disliked how the fantasy element inverted some of the normal "rules" of magic, without rhyme or reason. Yes, it meant that certain plot elements were surprises, but only in the same way that an attack by flying pigs would come as a total shock. Glamours that work in full sunlight, but that get weaker in the dark? Claustrophobic trolls? What the heck?
I am hoping that More...
I also disliked how the fantasy element inverted some of the normal "rules" of magic, without rhyme or reason. Yes, it meant that certain plot elements were surprises, but only in the same way that an attack by flying pigs would come as a total shock. Glamours that work in full sunlight, but that get weaker in the dark? Claustrophobic trolls? What the heck?
I am hoping that More...
Jun 08, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
This is a really fast read! I enjoyed the overall story, but there were certain parts that seemed cut and pasted together, and they made for awkward transitions. That being said, the focus on fencing and the fantasy element make this an engaging read. Aliera Carstairs is a typical teenager - searching for a place to fit in. The graphics are great - very expressive facial features, and the coloring really pops. There is a sequel planned according to Jane Yolen's website, which is good, becau
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Aug 11, 2011
Kristen
rated it:
First Impression:
In the spring, I had an opportunity to see the marvelous Jane Yolen at a local library event. I was looking at the books they had on sale for the signing and was shocked to see a graphic novel among them. So I picked it up then and there and am glad I did. The cover definitely pulled me and I couldn't wait to read it.
While Reading:
I really enjoyed Aliera's character right off. She was a bit of a loner, with an interesting hobby - fencing. There's two things t More...
In the spring, I had an opportunity to see the marvelous Jane Yolen at a local library event. I was looking at the books they had on sale for the signing and was shocked to see a graphic novel among them. So I picked it up then and there and am glad I did. The cover definitely pulled me and I couldn't wait to read it.
While Reading:
I really enjoyed Aliera's character right off. She was a bit of a loner, with an interesting hobby - fencing. There's two things t More...
