IT’S ALL OR NOTHING, VALE

A poignant novel in verse where, after a life-changing accident, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion.

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?

AVAILABLE IN SPANISH ON 4/8/2025 

Praise for vale

“Empowering and sensitive, It’s All or Nothing, Vale is a story of a girl becoming her own hero.” —Yamile Saied Méndez, Pura Belpré Medal-winning author of The Beautiful Game

“With the grace and quickness of the fencers she lovingly depicts, Andrea Beatriz Arango explores how we are so much more than one thing—one dream, one hardship—but rather a sum of many beautiful, ever-evolving parts.” —Natalia Sylvester, author of Pura Belpré Award and Schneider Family Award Honor Book, Breathe and Count Back From Ten

★ “Moving and insightful.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “This novel promises to be the rapier to the heart the reader needs to take control of their own choices.” —Booklist, starred review

“[A] narrative that highlights chosen family and the integral part it plays in forming one’s sense of self.” —Publishers Weekly