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18th out of 87 books
—
200 voters
Foiled (Foiled #1)
Aliera Carstairs just doesn't fit in.
She's invisible at high school.
She's too visible at the fencing gym.
Aliera's starting to wonder...where does she belong?
She's invisible at high school.
She's too visible at the fencing gym.
Aliera's starting to wonder...where does she belong?
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
April 13th 2010
by First Second
(first published April 1st 2010)
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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 that she...more
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.
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.
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 regular as...more
4 likes · like · see review
Aliera fences (and roleplays on the weekend). This puts her outside any of the cliques at her school - fencing doesn't fit with the jocks, she's not smart enough to be a nerd, gloomy enough to be a goth, etc etc. [Evidently this school doesn't have a geek clique, because they'd be all over her.] She's okay with being alone, focused on her successes with fencing, and her roleplaying cousin.
Then the hot new boy in school is assigned to be her partner in biology class. [Given who this boy turns out...more
Then the hot new boy in school is assigned to be her partner in biology class. [Given who this boy turns out...more
Foiled tells the story of a girl, alone in her school, but a legend at her fencing club. Set to be a world-class fencer, her only real friend is her cousin, bound to a wheelchair. When she buys a mysterious sword, however, everything changes...
Foiled was class. Great, bouncy story, likable and unusual characters, and really nice artwork. I love it when an author invites the reader into a system that they're not familiar with (in this case fencing) and makes it familiar. Reminded me of The Card T...more
Foiled was class. Great, bouncy story, likable and unusual characters, and really nice artwork. I love it when an author invites the reader into a system that they're not familiar with (in this case fencing) and makes it familiar. Reminded me of The Card T...more
My Thoughts:
This is a graphic novel; it’s about a teenage girl name Aliera. She is fencer and pretty good one too. Her mother bought her a new foil on garage sale ( or come second hand store). At first her foil appears to be like any other foil.
Aliera, is a loner. She does not fit in with any group at her school, she does not have any friends at school. When not in school she spends it at fencing practice, role playing with her cousin Caroline or vegging out in her room. I like Aliera, she is s...more
This is a graphic novel; it’s about a teenage girl name Aliera. She is fencer and pretty good one too. Her mother bought her a new foil on garage sale ( or come second hand store). At first her foil appears to be like any other foil.
Aliera, is a loner. She does not fit in with any group at her school, she does not have any friends at school. When not in school she spends it at fencing practice, role playing with her cousin Caroline or vegging out in her room. I like Aliera, she is s...more
Jul 08, 2012
Titis Wardhana
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
comic-graphic-manga
kirain Foiled ini novel, gak taunya komik.
ceritanya Aliera Carstairs sejak umur 11 tahun sudah suka sama anggar. dia dapet senjatanya dari kayak garage sale yang dibeli ibunya en murah abis pula. sudah banyak lawan-lawan yang lebih besar yang sudah dia kalahkan, pokoknya dia jago abis deh, trus dia single fighter, ke mana2 sendiri, keren en cool abis deh, sampai pada suatu ketika pas uda SMA ada cowok baru di sekolahnya namanya Avery Castle yang ganteng abiesss deh pokoknya (katanya), sampe si A...more
ceritanya Aliera Carstairs sejak umur 11 tahun sudah suka sama anggar. dia dapet senjatanya dari kayak garage sale yang dibeli ibunya en murah abis pula. sudah banyak lawan-lawan yang lebih besar yang sudah dia kalahkan, pokoknya dia jago abis deh, trus dia single fighter, ke mana2 sendiri, keren en cool abis deh, sampai pada suatu ketika pas uda SMA ada cowok baru di sekolahnya namanya Avery Castle yang ganteng abiesss deh pokoknya (katanya), sampe si A...more
Yolen, J. (2010). Foiled. New York: First Second.
160 pages.
Appetizer: Aliera Carstairs fences. No that's an understatement. She is a champion fencer, someone who has fought at Nationals, beaten fencers older and stronger than her. She knows how to defend herself and her heart.
Yet, she's invisible at school. Aliera watches as a new boy, Avery Castle, arrives at school, she watches as he holds the attention of every girl. When they are paired as lab partners, Aliera must struggle to guard her hea...more
160 pages.
Appetizer: Aliera Carstairs fences. No that's an understatement. She is a champion fencer, someone who has fought at Nationals, beaten fencers older and stronger than her. She knows how to defend herself and her heart.
Yet, she's invisible at school. Aliera watches as a new boy, Avery Castle, arrives at school, she watches as he holds the attention of every girl. When they are paired as lab partners, Aliera must struggle to guard her hea...more
This graphic novel centers around the lessons that our hero, Aliera, learns in her fencing training. Aliera is dedicated, spending each day after school and every Saturday in training to be a fencing champion, with the second-hand foil her mom found at a tag sale. Her focused routine leaves her little time for friends or romance, although it does include time for a weekly role playing game with her cousin. But her focus is broken when she attracts the attention of Avery, the cute new guy at scho...more
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...more
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 isn't one of the brains, or on...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 isn't one of the brains, or on...more
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 she...more
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. Fills the niche...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. Fills the niche...more
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...more
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 refuse talk w...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 refuse talk w...more
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 editorial director is Mar...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 editorial director is Mar...more
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 is very good...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 is very good...more
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 out, and I jus...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 out, and I jus...more
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 this is. I...more
Aliera is a unique teen. She's just not sure where she fits. She's a fencer, but not a jock (fencing doesn't really count, right?). She's not a goth, she's not a nerd. She's just Aliera. Dedicated fencer, devoted cousin, and role player. When a gorgeous guy becomes her lab partner, he's got to be too good to be true.
I'd consider this to be "urban fantasy", and the jump from mundane to fantastic is a bit abrupt and slightly confusing. That's the main thing that bumped it down from 5 stars for me...more
I'd consider this to be "urban fantasy", and the jump from mundane to fantastic is a bit abrupt and slightly confusing. That's the main thing that bumped it down from 5 stars for me...more
Di masa kisah2 fantasi mengambil latar belakang cerita "saat ini" seperti sekarang, ide cerita komik ini kok ya jadi terasa basi. Ada seorang cewek remaja yang merasa biasa saja, nggak cantik, nggak pintar, dan nggak punya banyak teman, lalu dihampiri seorang cowok anak baru di sekolah. Seoerti biasa, cowok ini membuat klepek2 cewek2 lain saking keren dan tampannya. Eh... tau2 si cewek biasa kita lah yang mendapati bahwa cowok itu bukan manusia biasa... semacam setengah siluman lah. Dari mana si...more
This is a brilliant, well written graphic novel. A young girl named Aleira who fences got a practice foil as a gift from her mother who found it in a secondhand store for 2 bucks. It has a gem attached to the end of it, which she can't figure out why it's there or how come it won't come off. Meanwhile she develops a crush on her lab partner who asks her on a date. They are due to meet at grand central station, but then something strange happens. Aliera who is colorblind can suddenly see colors,...more
I love browsing shelves. I always find books I never would have encountered otherwise. This was the case with Foiled. I was actually looking for American Born Chinese, which was not on the shelf despite the library catalog's insistence that it was checked-in. Scouring the shelves, I discovered this book, which looked interesting enough to check out, so I did. When you browse you find both jewels and duds, and as much as I didn't want it to be, I think this one was a dud.
This was my first real ve...more
This was my first real ve...more
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 is cleverly...more
Foiled by Jane Yolen is cleverly...more
A girl named Aleria came from a big, dark city. She used to have a boyfriend that caused a lot of trouble. Aleria’s favorite hobby is to fence among other players in a game. The fencing sword is made out of bendible plastic so it doesn’t hurt anybody. She also thinks that skate-boarding is a great activity for her around the city. The bad thing is that she has to face being partners with such an annoying guy so they can dissect a frog. His name is Avery Castle and he thinks he can hit on any gir...more
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...more
Jane Yolen is great. I think it is wonderful that she came up with this wonderfully strong heroine whose power comes from her fencing helmet and foil.
Colorblind Aliera has only seen the world in black, white, and grays until events cause her to look for head protection and she puts on her fencing helmet in Grand Central Station. Once in place, the world is an entirely different place for her. Faeries, dragons, demons, trolls, and other scary things surround her (all in bright and beautiful colo...more
Colorblind Aliera has only seen the world in black, white, and grays until events cause her to look for head protection and she puts on her fencing helmet in Grand Central Station. Once in place, the world is an entirely different place for her. Faeries, dragons, demons, trolls, and other scary things surround her (all in bright and beautiful colo...more
Jun 21, 2012
Nomi Kane
added it
I had really high hopes for Foiled; I loved the concept - a badass female fencer who could care less about being cool fighting the inevitable feelings of her first, totally overwhelming crush - but the storytelling was really choppy. So much so that I actually thought pages of my book were missing. The dramatic scenes seemed to come almost from nowhere, with no build up, and I found myself constantly feeling like I missed something. It also seemed like there should have been some foreshadowing a...more
Mar 11, 2011
Osric Lecourtier
added it
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 malign...more
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...more
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Yolen was born at Beth Israel Hospital, the first child of Isabel Berlin and Will Hyatt Yolen. She and her family moved to California when she was young but returned to New York a few years later. After her younger brother was born, her father joined the army and served on the European front during WWII. Yolen spent her childhood taking piano lessons, ballet dancing and writing a neighborhood news...more
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Feb 21, 2011 02:10pm