Reddit reviews The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe

If you can find an affordable copy, Anglo's Martial Arts of Rennaissance Europe is a great, thorough overview. Might be on the dry side for a 13 year old, but it's about sword fighting. It should keep their interest.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martial-Arts-Renaissance-Europe/dp/0300083521

Or Marsden's HEMA in its context

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Historical-European-Martial-Arts-Context/dp/0984771662/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=Marsden+hema&qid=1566727440&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Clement's early books are pretty awful. There, I said it.

Start with either of these, used:

The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe by Sydney Anglo
http://www.amazon.com/The-Martial-Arts-Renaissance-Europe/dp/0300083521


The Secret History of the Sword: Adventures in Ancient Martial Arts by J Christopher Amberger
http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-History-Sword-Adventures/dp/1892515040/ref=pd_sim_14_32?ie=UTF8&dpID=31Z86X2NFJL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR112%2C160_&refRID=1QRX90HN1RY6XVFY6K9D

If you want to learn about the martial arts of Europe from about 1200-1600, the book that I own is called the Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe. It is meant for a lay audience, and if you can find it in a library I definitely recommend at least skimming it.