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May the Best Player Win
In this middle grade novel the clock is ticking for May Li, whose middle-school chess team just earned a victory at the state championship—and with it, a ticket to nationals. What’s even more exciting is that May got an award for being the top female player and a splashy feature in the biggest chess magazine in the country.
May should be thrilled. But some of her teammates, including her supposed-to-be-friend Ralph, aren’t too pleased with the attention she’s getting—and they’re even questioning her skills. Backed into a corner, but not one to back down, May makes a move as bold as any of her chess tactics: She bets Ralph she can win the school’s internal tournament and be chosen as team captain for nationals.
The crown is May’s for the taking . . . except she’s starting to crumble under the weight of everyone’s expectations. Anxious feelings begin to affect her performance and, what’s worse, eat away at her love for the game. Now May is left to wonder: Can you still play for fun when you’re playing to win?
May should be thrilled. But some of her teammates, including her supposed-to-be-friend Ralph, aren’t too pleased with the attention she’s getting—and they’re even questioning her skills. Backed into a corner, but not one to back down, May makes a move as bold as any of her chess tactics: She bets Ralph she can win the school’s internal tournament and be chosen as team captain for nationals.
The crown is May’s for the taking . . . except she’s starting to crumble under the weight of everyone’s expectations. Anxious feelings begin to affect her performance and, what’s worse, eat away at her love for the game. Now May is left to wonder: Can you still play for fun when you’re playing to win?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2024
29 people are currently reading
2843 people want to read
About the author
Kyla Zhao
6 books379 followersKyla Zhao’s books have been spotlighted by CBS, NBC, Good Morning America, Vogue, Elle, Buzzfeed, South China Morning Post, and more.
She has also been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, named a Tatler Leader of Tomorrow, and awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the California State Assembly for her contributions to Asian media representation.
Across genres and age groups, Kyla’s stories center women and girls of color who explore ambition, identity, and belonging in vibrant settings.
She has also been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, named a Tatler Leader of Tomorrow, and awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the California State Assembly for her contributions to Asian media representation.
Across genres and age groups, Kyla’s stories center women and girls of color who explore ambition, identity, and belonging in vibrant settings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
November 18, 2021
i read an early version of this and. y’all. the kids need this book. this book would’ve changed everything for me. i’m so proud of kyla omg you are NOT ready
September 17, 2024
I found this middle grade book about a young school chess champion and how she learns to embrace the challenges that come with success in competitive sport absolutely adorable!
I was drawn to the book by the cover with its impression of a bubbly girl playing chess. That's exactly how I would describe May Li, the 12 yo protagonist.
May has loved playing chess since she was six and when she and her school team win the state finals and get picked to play the national chess championship, she is thrilled. Getting featured in her favourite chess magazine and winning a trophy for being the most promising female player are the icing on the cake. There is a flip side too however, with May's teammate and friend turned foe Ralph insisting that she's winning all these accolades only because she's a girl! Stunned, May challenges Ralph that she will prove that she is the best and deserves all the praise. Can she handle the additional pressure and the weight of expectations and do as she has promised?
I found the representation of sport and what it means to be good at it and then be overwhelmed by the constant thought of winning very age appropriate and well done. May loves chess and is willing to work hard to be good at it but she is plagued by insecurities and the fear of being loved and appreciated only for being a victor. Her journey to learn how to balance wanting to be the very best with enjoying the game itself and also making time for friends and fun in her life is a wonderful one.
I loved the emphasis on the support of parents, teachers and friends in alleviating performance anxiety. There was also a message conveyed about how girls have to justify winning and apologize for losing so much of the time because of all the stereotypical thinking about them not being as good as their male counterparts. The fact that the author also stressed that gender is irrelevant when it comes to playing the game or showing emotion about winning or losing and sexist comments of any nature should not be tolerated is great.
May and her friends are very likeable characters who come across as really authentic with their earnestness and vulnerability and, occasionally, melodrama too! May's friendship with Becca was heartwarming. Her interactions with Mario, the soccer captain with whom she does a photo campaign for the school and the way they help each other grow was so cute. The way all of these kids learn from their mistakes and make up for them was a favourite part of the book. I also liked the adult characters and the role they played in helping the kids.
A couple of things that stood out were :
1. May's spunk and her way of relating life situations to chess and vice versa and coming up with solutions to problems.
2. The chapter headings that were all chess related and made a lot of sense storywise.
I found myself wishing I knew more than the most rudimentary facts about chess so that I could have enjoyed the matches more though this didn't really affect how I felt about it! I did ask my teenager about all the various opening and defence moves named.
Overall it's a wonderful read about loving what you do while aiming to be good at it, learning to balance the joy of being at the top with accepting losses while participating in competitions and most importantly, always listening to your heart and being confident in your own abilities.
I think the target audience will love this book. I certainly did.
My thanks to the author Kyla Zhao and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. These are my honest thoughts about the book.
I was drawn to the book by the cover with its impression of a bubbly girl playing chess. That's exactly how I would describe May Li, the 12 yo protagonist.
May has loved playing chess since she was six and when she and her school team win the state finals and get picked to play the national chess championship, she is thrilled. Getting featured in her favourite chess magazine and winning a trophy for being the most promising female player are the icing on the cake. There is a flip side too however, with May's teammate and friend turned foe Ralph insisting that she's winning all these accolades only because she's a girl! Stunned, May challenges Ralph that she will prove that she is the best and deserves all the praise. Can she handle the additional pressure and the weight of expectations and do as she has promised?
I found the representation of sport and what it means to be good at it and then be overwhelmed by the constant thought of winning very age appropriate and well done. May loves chess and is willing to work hard to be good at it but she is plagued by insecurities and the fear of being loved and appreciated only for being a victor. Her journey to learn how to balance wanting to be the very best with enjoying the game itself and also making time for friends and fun in her life is a wonderful one.
I loved the emphasis on the support of parents, teachers and friends in alleviating performance anxiety. There was also a message conveyed about how girls have to justify winning and apologize for losing so much of the time because of all the stereotypical thinking about them not being as good as their male counterparts. The fact that the author also stressed that gender is irrelevant when it comes to playing the game or showing emotion about winning or losing and sexist comments of any nature should not be tolerated is great.
May and her friends are very likeable characters who come across as really authentic with their earnestness and vulnerability and, occasionally, melodrama too! May's friendship with Becca was heartwarming. Her interactions with Mario, the soccer captain with whom she does a photo campaign for the school and the way they help each other grow was so cute. The way all of these kids learn from their mistakes and make up for them was a favourite part of the book. I also liked the adult characters and the role they played in helping the kids.
A couple of things that stood out were :
1. May's spunk and her way of relating life situations to chess and vice versa and coming up with solutions to problems.
2. The chapter headings that were all chess related and made a lot of sense storywise.
I found myself wishing I knew more than the most rudimentary facts about chess so that I could have enjoyed the matches more though this didn't really affect how I felt about it! I did ask my teenager about all the various opening and defence moves named.
Overall it's a wonderful read about loving what you do while aiming to be good at it, learning to balance the joy of being at the top with accepting losses while participating in competitions and most importantly, always listening to your heart and being confident in your own abilities.
I think the target audience will love this book. I certainly did.
My thanks to the author Kyla Zhao and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. These are my honest thoughts about the book.
February 27, 2025
Read this in one sitting, so I obviously enjoyed it. The frequent games keep the pace clicking along, even as a reader who knows nothing about chess.
But I couldn’t get past the writer’s restrictive and obsessive stances on food. There are dozens of remarks, each benign on its own, that add up to a constant buzz of food noise and judgment.
“Wow, my parents must be really happy if they are willing to let me eat so much sugar this late at night!” Okay
“I think more sugar is never a bad thing.” Fine, that’s pretty normal
“Last month, we even tried using [Chessman cookies] in a game. […] I ended the game with a victory and a stomachache. I always beg my mom to buy them, but she says too much sugar isn’t good for me.” Okay… not sure what this anecdote is adding
“I arrive at Mr. Wang’s in a bit of a food coma” this is after eating… two sample-size cookies…
“Mario orders the cookies-and-cream milkshake and even asks for it to be monster-fried, which means they make it extra large. His drink is almost as big as his face and topped off with a mountain of whipped cream and a slab of Oreo cheesecake. I don’t know how he’s going to fall asleep tonight. ‘Hey, a ninety-minute soccer match is hard work. I need to refill my energy tank.’ Mario shrugs when he sees my mouth fall open.” May, please just let him eat
Don’t worry, May is less ~greedy~ and orders a “peppermint milkshake— something minty and refreshing is just what I need to stay up late for chess.”
But even that is just too gluttonous, since she dares to eat French fries as well, so she wakes up with a freaking hangover. “My head feels as thick and sludgy as the peppermint milkshake I chugged down last night. My stomach flips as I push myself into an upright position in bed. […] when I got home, the food coma slammed into me like an Alekhine’s Gun in chess.”
“In school, I barely eat anything, partly because I’m still trying to digest all the fast food I ate last night.” Let’s not throw in compensatory restriction like that’s normal and expected!
And that’s only from the first half of the book. It’s exhausting.
But I couldn’t get past the writer’s restrictive and obsessive stances on food. There are dozens of remarks, each benign on its own, that add up to a constant buzz of food noise and judgment.
“Wow, my parents must be really happy if they are willing to let me eat so much sugar this late at night!” Okay
“I think more sugar is never a bad thing.” Fine, that’s pretty normal
“Last month, we even tried using [Chessman cookies] in a game. […] I ended the game with a victory and a stomachache. I always beg my mom to buy them, but she says too much sugar isn’t good for me.” Okay… not sure what this anecdote is adding
“I arrive at Mr. Wang’s in a bit of a food coma” this is after eating… two sample-size cookies…
“Mario orders the cookies-and-cream milkshake and even asks for it to be monster-fried, which means they make it extra large. His drink is almost as big as his face and topped off with a mountain of whipped cream and a slab of Oreo cheesecake. I don’t know how he’s going to fall asleep tonight. ‘Hey, a ninety-minute soccer match is hard work. I need to refill my energy tank.’ Mario shrugs when he sees my mouth fall open.” May, please just let him eat
Don’t worry, May is less ~greedy~ and orders a “peppermint milkshake— something minty and refreshing is just what I need to stay up late for chess.”
But even that is just too gluttonous, since she dares to eat French fries as well, so she wakes up with a freaking hangover. “My head feels as thick and sludgy as the peppermint milkshake I chugged down last night. My stomach flips as I push myself into an upright position in bed. […] when I got home, the food coma slammed into me like an Alekhine’s Gun in chess.”
“In school, I barely eat anything, partly because I’m still trying to digest all the fast food I ate last night.” Let’s not throw in compensatory restriction like that’s normal and expected!
And that’s only from the first half of the book. It’s exhausting.
August 19, 2022
I was lucky enough to read this in its early version, and middle grade readers should all be so excited to get their hands on this when it comes out! It's especially perfect for: chess girls, soccer goalies, fans of delicious food descriptions, kids with a competitive streak a mile wide, and, again, chess girls. As a former (okay, fine, current) chess girl, I loved the high stakes moments charged with pawns and Sicilian Defenses.
December 25, 2024
This was a really sweet book. May is a 7th grader who loves chess. But the more success she has at it, the more pressure she feels to do well. Are her parents only proud of her if she wins? Will the boys who tell her she will never be as good as them be proven right? Can she play chess competitively and still spend time with friends doing things other than chess?
I’ve never been as good at anything as May is at chess, but I can understand the intense pressure she feels. And the author does a great job of making her realistic and sympathetic, even when she makes mistakes.
This is a wonderful middle grade book for anyone.
Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve never been as good at anything as May is at chess, but I can understand the intense pressure she feels. And the author does a great job of making her realistic and sympathetic, even when she makes mistakes.
This is a wonderful middle grade book for anyone.
Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2024
I read an early draft of this book and I absolutely loved it. This lovely debut middle grade novel is filled with friendships, girls finding their place, and AMAZING high stakes chess scenes. I cannot wait for this book to be out and for so many readers to find themselves represented in these pages <3
October 14, 2024
may is on her way to win the nationals after her middle school chess team just won a the state championship. furthermore, she got an award for being the top female player and will even be featured on a billboard! despite the excitement and the potential of this win, may’s friend, ralph is jealous and made sexist remarks about may’s win. on top of balancing friendships, working out her relationship with chess, and handling school in general, may doesn’t need this sexist rhetoric. instead, she’ll proof to everyone that she’s worth it, but the self-doubts will not stop plaguing her.
i really loved may’s conversation with her mother about chess and whether it’s an obligation or passion. the expectation that may will be the winner and bring joy and glory to the school is weighing down on her. also, may keeps thinking that her parents are cheering her on because they wanted her to win. rather, her parents just love watching their daughter thrive in something she truly love. may has performance anxiety that stemmed from her worth coming only from winning. what if she doesn’t win? would nobody love her anymore?
i’m glad may had her parents and friends as support systems when she opened up to them about her fears and insecurities. it was a really healthy relationship between may and her parents which is really crucial for a young person’s development.
i really loved may’s conversation with her mother about chess and whether it’s an obligation or passion. the expectation that may will be the winner and bring joy and glory to the school is weighing down on her. also, may keeps thinking that her parents are cheering her on because they wanted her to win. rather, her parents just love watching their daughter thrive in something she truly love. may has performance anxiety that stemmed from her worth coming only from winning. what if she doesn’t win? would nobody love her anymore?
i’m glad may had her parents and friends as support systems when she opened up to them about her fears and insecurities. it was a really healthy relationship between may and her parents which is really crucial for a young person’s development.
September 13, 2024
May Li is the top girl at her middle school state chess championship and wins a trophy for her efforts. The recognition brings more publicity, and May begins to place more pressure on herself to live up to the expectations in preparing for the national tournament. However, a jealous friend insists she only got the trophy for being a girl, fracturing her friend group. May finds herself making a new friend at school while avoiding chess in spite of her goals.
This is the book that my middle school students have been waiting for! I have lots of chess fans, but right now, Not an Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles is the one book they pass around. This will appeal to both the girls and the boys in my classes, though some of the boys may grumble at some of the "girl power" messages delivered rather directly. Regardless, this is the book I will be recommending to my students who put too much pressure on themselves -- I think they will see themselves in May Li and enjoy how she comes to terms with the pressure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is the book that my middle school students have been waiting for! I have lots of chess fans, but right now, Not an Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles is the one book they pass around. This will appeal to both the girls and the boys in my classes, though some of the boys may grumble at some of the "girl power" messages delivered rather directly. Regardless, this is the book I will be recommending to my students who put too much pressure on themselves -- I think they will see themselves in May Li and enjoy how she comes to terms with the pressure.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 21, 2024
May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao is a wholesome, short, and encouraging read. As someone drawn to chess, I was intrigued by this debut young reader’s book and decided to give it a try. While I typically read non-fiction and occasionally enjoy fantasy or sci-fi, there’s something uniquely refreshing about relaxing with a book like this—it brought me back to my childhood in a child-like (but not childish) way.
I also found myself relating to May’s experiences, especially through my own background in music. Navigating similar struggles and emotions made her journey feel particularly resonant.
For the record, you don’t need to understand or even enjoy chess to appreciate this book. For awareness, one of the elements is how it addresses ongoing struggles with gender equality in sports and life. Zhao’s approach is refreshing, presenting these themes with love and understanding rather than being heavy-handed or preachy. The message feels real, encouraging, and thoughtfully woven into the story.
Although this is a young reader’s book, it’s easily one of my favorites I've read in a while.
I also found myself relating to May’s experiences, especially through my own background in music. Navigating similar struggles and emotions made her journey feel particularly resonant.
For the record, you don’t need to understand or even enjoy chess to appreciate this book. For awareness, one of the elements is how it addresses ongoing struggles with gender equality in sports and life. Zhao’s approach is refreshing, presenting these themes with love and understanding rather than being heavy-handed or preachy. The message feels real, encouraging, and thoughtfully woven into the story.
Although this is a young reader’s book, it’s easily one of my favorites I've read in a while.
November 3, 2024
✨ "But life isn't an infinite to-do list with boxes to be checked off. It's not done with this goal, on to the next. You have to pause and make time for celebrating how far you've come."
A fun and breezy read that I finished in a few hours!
I enjoyed how the author takes us through the world of competitive chess, while also exploring themes of family, friendship and identity. May's struggles were relatable and authentic, especially how a passion can feel so different when it becomes a job, competition or livelihood. I also loved the representation and getting to know all the various characters.
While not exceptional, this was still an entertaining and illuminating middle-grade novel that many (especially young readers) will enjoy.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for the Netgalley ARC.
A fun and breezy read that I finished in a few hours!
I enjoyed how the author takes us through the world of competitive chess, while also exploring themes of family, friendship and identity. May's struggles were relatable and authentic, especially how a passion can feel so different when it becomes a job, competition or livelihood. I also loved the representation and getting to know all the various characters.
While not exceptional, this was still an entertaining and illuminating middle-grade novel that many (especially young readers) will enjoy.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for the Netgalley ARC.
October 5, 2024
Absolutely love this! From the awesome chapter titles, which include chess terminology (and its definitions!) to a main character you root for and relate to as she goes through alllllll the feelings one does as they involve themselves in competitions of any kind, middle grade readers will love this one! I can play basic chess, so there are parts that I wish I understood more, but mostly I just absolutely loved how this was written. The commentary on gender roles & expectations, and learning to play to win, but ALSO to have fun, made me smile so big.
Totally fabulous!!!
Totally fabulous!!!
September 20, 2024
It’s an invitation into the world of chess, into typical gender and sports stereotypes and into the world of May, her family and her friends as she navigates growing older with conflicting thoughts about the passion she loves. This book has something for everyone. I was completely hooked into the world of chess with the foreshadowing of each chapter with a chess term and definition. Themes of enoughness, anxiety and doing what we love were evident alongside a page-turning story of the competitive world of middle school chess. =) But the best part? The letter to readers at the end with a heartfelt message to find something you love and to hold onto that joy of playing for no reason at all, other than that you enjoy it.
November 16, 2024
I think that it was really well written, and hope that there is a sequel so I can keep reading about the main character.
January 20, 2025
Beyond adorable! Need more MG from Kyla Zhao!
October 25, 2024
This book was good and made me actually enjoy chess. It was just a little cringing with the way they talk lol
December 18, 2024
May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao is a light read about a girl who wants to break the stereotype in chess and prove others as well as herself that she is more than just her trophy title.
This book is too straightforward and nothing about the story surprises me. I really hope the bet as who would be the leader would be shortened and focus on the Nationals competition instead. Perhaps there is a sequel coming later on which is why it ended that way.
I'm not a huge fan of May. For someone who is a child, she just have way too many worries. I don't like Ralph either and the way they resolved the bet felt too anticlimatic.
All in all, I don't recommend you to read this book.
This book is too straightforward and nothing about the story surprises me. I really hope the bet as who would be the leader would be shortened and focus on the Nationals competition instead. Perhaps there is a sequel coming later on which is why it ended that way.
I'm not a huge fan of May. For someone who is a child, she just have way too many worries. I don't like Ralph either and the way they resolved the bet felt too anticlimatic.
All in all, I don't recommend you to read this book.
February 19, 2022
I was lucky enough to read an early version of this book and I loved how honest and inspiring it was. It was a great reminder that everyone should read middle grade, because the life lessons doled out in middle grade books are always worth being reminded of. MAY THE BEST PLAYER WIN didn’t fall short here, with important lessons about following your heart, doing what feels right to you and allowing yourself the space and grave to change your mind—and even better, it showed adult characters also realizing this could be good advice for them, too.
May’s anxieties about her future, about being good enough for her parents and making them proud, and about doing what makes her happy are all relatable and the way she dives into the issues with a burning curiosity was truly authentic for a character her age; being inquisitive without being outright rude or dismissive of other’s beliefs and experiences. Her peers are also a great joy to read, all kind and understanding and able to see the errors in their own ways and rectifying their missteps, because it’s never too late to do better.
May is an easy character to root for and have faith in, which makes the moments where we find ourselves wondering what step she’ll take next exciting yet not worrying.
This book is great for any reader, young or older, whether or not they play chess. 💜
May’s anxieties about her future, about being good enough for her parents and making them proud, and about doing what makes her happy are all relatable and the way she dives into the issues with a burning curiosity was truly authentic for a character her age; being inquisitive without being outright rude or dismissive of other’s beliefs and experiences. Her peers are also a great joy to read, all kind and understanding and able to see the errors in their own ways and rectifying their missteps, because it’s never too late to do better.
May is an easy character to root for and have faith in, which makes the moments where we find ourselves wondering what step she’ll take next exciting yet not worrying.
This book is great for any reader, young or older, whether or not they play chess. 💜
October 29, 2024
4.5 stars
The best way I can sum up this book is simply this emoji: 🥹🥹🥹
This book was so nostalgic for me in so many ways and made me so viscerally homesick for my childhood. Though I never played chess myself, I grew up very much surrounded by it because my sibling played, and many of the scenes in this book reminded me of those times. I have not read middle grade for a while, but each time I have, I'm reminded what a beautiful genre it is. May's story was encouraging, relatable, and fun at the same time, and each character was so thoughtfully written. I loved reading about May's relationship with her family and friends (and I quite possibly teared up at some points)! Kyla Zhao really captured May's world, her mindset, and the struggles she overcame with such care—you can tell how much this story means to her, and in turn, it meant a lot to me to read it as well <3
The best way I can sum up this book is simply this emoji: 🥹🥹🥹
This book was so nostalgic for me in so many ways and made me so viscerally homesick for my childhood. Though I never played chess myself, I grew up very much surrounded by it because my sibling played, and many of the scenes in this book reminded me of those times. I have not read middle grade for a while, but each time I have, I'm reminded what a beautiful genre it is. May's story was encouraging, relatable, and fun at the same time, and each character was so thoughtfully written. I loved reading about May's relationship with her family and friends (and I quite possibly teared up at some points)! Kyla Zhao really captured May's world, her mindset, and the struggles she overcame with such care—you can tell how much this story means to her, and in turn, it meant a lot to me to read it as well <3
November 19, 2021
I got to read an early version of this and will defend it with my life. It's a love letter to girls in chess and a love letter to kids trying to find out what they want when all the expectations are stripped away, and who need to put themselves first sometimes. This book has SO much heart and I can't wait for it to be out.
November 24, 2025
We're reading this for book club and then we're going to watch Searching for Bobby Fischer!
I think this was a really great book that brought up so many important messages and topics: gender roles, pressure to succeed, jock vs nerd stereotypes, anxiety, sports, hobbies, culture, school, etc.
I didn't take any stars off for this, but is it realistic that these early middle schoolers were going everywhere on their own, staying out late, baking/cooking huge meals, etc., while also being really responsible?? Like, I've consumed lots of media where the kids skip school or go to parties their parents don't know about. But these kids are going to a smoothie place until late on a Sunday night, consuming mass amounts of sugar, and planning an innocent Halloween party — without their parents knowing? Maybe it's just a difference in where we live, and young kids really are getting Ubers on their own in bigger cities.
Okay, here was my one problem from the story: Sometimes May's competitiveness got the best of her, which I felt like wasn't explored enough to make some of her actions acceptable and so easily forgiven. And she would constantly go back and forth in her head about feeling like she's the best player and then getting really down that she was the worst player. I think that's actually a really accurate depiction of how people can think about themselves, but it got to be a little heavy handed so as to be a bit annoying. At least for an adult lol. But a kid in our chess club suggested it for book club, so it obviously resonated with him, a juvenile reader!
Overall, I'm so glad Kyla Zhao created this book to bring a lot of nuanced perspectives (and a fun story) to the world of middle grade fiction.
I think this was a really great book that brought up so many important messages and topics: gender roles, pressure to succeed, jock vs nerd stereotypes, anxiety, sports, hobbies, culture, school, etc.
I didn't take any stars off for this, but is it realistic that these early middle schoolers were going everywhere on their own, staying out late, baking/cooking huge meals, etc., while also being really responsible?? Like, I've consumed lots of media where the kids skip school or go to parties their parents don't know about. But these kids are going to a smoothie place until late on a Sunday night, consuming mass amounts of sugar, and planning an innocent Halloween party — without their parents knowing? Maybe it's just a difference in where we live, and young kids really are getting Ubers on their own in bigger cities.
Okay, here was my one problem from the story: Sometimes May's competitiveness got the best of her, which I felt like wasn't explored enough to make some of her actions acceptable and so easily forgiven. And she would constantly go back and forth in her head about feeling like she's the best player and then getting really down that she was the worst player. I think that's actually a really accurate depiction of how people can think about themselves, but it got to be a little heavy handed so as to be a bit annoying. At least for an adult lol. But a kid in our chess club suggested it for book club, so it obviously resonated with him, a juvenile reader!
Overall, I'm so glad Kyla Zhao created this book to bring a lot of nuanced perspectives (and a fun story) to the world of middle grade fiction.
September 15, 2024
A big thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing me with an eARC to read and review. This doesn't affect my opinion in any way.
May the Best Player Win caught my eye right away and I was so excited when I got my eARC. Even though it's been years since I sat down to play a game of chess, it's something I do still find interesting. It's also something I don't come across very often in books, so that made it even more interesting. Kyla Zhao gave us a unique middle grade story and it's one I won't forget.
Our main character May Li has loved chess for a few years and her middle grade team has made nationals this year. May even receives an award for being the top female player and a magazine spread in the biggest chess magazine of the country. When this happens and a friend in her chess club says she only got the trophy and spread because she's a girl, things start getting complicated for May. This felt very realistic I think for many girls, but also for children who maybe put a little too much pressure on themselves.
May the Best Player Win is about doing what you love, friendship, expectations from yourselves and others, trying new things even when it's a bit scary, and believing in yourself. It was interesting to see May start to question if she really still loved chess, but also wondering if her parents would still love her if she didn't want to play anymore. I really appreciated her parents both telling her it wasn't about her winning, but seeing her succeed in something she loved. Also, Kyla does a great job approaching the subject that girls are sometimes looked down upon when they're good at something. I think this is a great read for children. That you can do something you love and even stop when it's not fun anymore. That sometimes you just need to think of you and not worry about what others think. I really hope this author writes more middle grade stories.
May the Best Player Win caught my eye right away and I was so excited when I got my eARC. Even though it's been years since I sat down to play a game of chess, it's something I do still find interesting. It's also something I don't come across very often in books, so that made it even more interesting. Kyla Zhao gave us a unique middle grade story and it's one I won't forget.
Our main character May Li has loved chess for a few years and her middle grade team has made nationals this year. May even receives an award for being the top female player and a magazine spread in the biggest chess magazine of the country. When this happens and a friend in her chess club says she only got the trophy and spread because she's a girl, things start getting complicated for May. This felt very realistic I think for many girls, but also for children who maybe put a little too much pressure on themselves.
May the Best Player Win is about doing what you love, friendship, expectations from yourselves and others, trying new things even when it's a bit scary, and believing in yourself. It was interesting to see May start to question if she really still loved chess, but also wondering if her parents would still love her if she didn't want to play anymore. I really appreciated her parents both telling her it wasn't about her winning, but seeing her succeed in something she loved. Also, Kyla does a great job approaching the subject that girls are sometimes looked down upon when they're good at something. I think this is a great read for children. That you can do something you love and even stop when it's not fun anymore. That sometimes you just need to think of you and not worry about what others think. I really hope this author writes more middle grade stories.
June 12, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
When May Li's best friend and chess team teammate makes a snide comment about her being good "for a girl", she decides not to have much to do with him. She still has her friend Becca, who is on the team just because the school doesn't have a cooking club. May Li feels a little awkward, since she DID win the Judit Polgar award at the tournament, and not only is going to be interviewed for Chessbase Magazine, but is one of the school's choices to be on a bulletin board celebrating the school's 100th anniversary. At the photo shoot for this, she connects with Mario, who is an excellent soccer player, and ends up going to one of his games. There's a lot of demands on May Li's time; she takes lesson with Mr. Wang at a chess academy, and wants to make her parents proud of her. She's still angry with Ralph, and determined that not only will she be on the team going to the national tournament, but also to be the team captain. When a match with Becca is the only thing standing between her and victory of Ralph, she thinks about asking Becca to throw the game, but doesn't. When Becca tries to do this anyway, May Li makes a move that ends in a draw. She and Ralph have to play an Armageddon match to figure out who will win.
This has a lot of details about chess, and I really enjoyed that May Li and Mario were able to be friendly to one another even though their interests were very different. This had strong traditional feminist themes that were quite refreshing; haven't seen a book with a lot of Girl Power in a while, and chess certainly hasn't always been kind to female players. Hand this to readers who enjoyed Gerber's Focused or Giles' Not An Easy Win.
When May Li's best friend and chess team teammate makes a snide comment about her being good "for a girl", she decides not to have much to do with him. She still has her friend Becca, who is on the team just because the school doesn't have a cooking club. May Li feels a little awkward, since she DID win the Judit Polgar award at the tournament, and not only is going to be interviewed for Chessbase Magazine, but is one of the school's choices to be on a bulletin board celebrating the school's 100th anniversary. At the photo shoot for this, she connects with Mario, who is an excellent soccer player, and ends up going to one of his games. There's a lot of demands on May Li's time; she takes lesson with Mr. Wang at a chess academy, and wants to make her parents proud of her. She's still angry with Ralph, and determined that not only will she be on the team going to the national tournament, but also to be the team captain. When a match with Becca is the only thing standing between her and victory of Ralph, she thinks about asking Becca to throw the game, but doesn't. When Becca tries to do this anyway, May Li makes a move that ends in a draw. She and Ralph have to play an Armageddon match to figure out who will win.
This has a lot of details about chess, and I really enjoyed that May Li and Mario were able to be friendly to one another even though their interests were very different. This had strong traditional feminist themes that were quite refreshing; haven't seen a book with a lot of Girl Power in a while, and chess certainly hasn't always been kind to female players. Hand this to readers who enjoyed Gerber's Focused or Giles' Not An Easy Win.
June 2, 2024
May Li is not the best player in the world. She is just one of the best players at the middle school, who, like the others in the chess club, made it to the state championship. She was so excited to go, but she lost her last game, so didn’t qualify for a prize. But it turned out, because she was a girl, that she got a special prize for just participating at that level. One one hand, this felt like cheating, but on the other hand, ohh, shiny trophy.
Thus beings May’s back and forth about whether she was really a good player or not. She kept worrying that she was a fraud, and despite knowing all she knew about the game, overthinking all her moves.
What I like about this, is the thinking that goes through May’s head. And how she learns that what makes the game important is the love of the game. Yes, it is important to win, but it is also important to enjoy playing, or what is the point?
This book also has the usual misunderstood friendships, and boys, but they are all there for a purpose, and are not thrown in because they have to be there.
The author said she based May on her own life playing chess as a girl growing up. And this shows. I also like the thinking of her chess coach who tells her not to make chess her be-all and end-all. Because when you stop playing, what have you left?
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out on the 17th of September 2024.
September 16, 2024
This Middle Grade version of The Queens Gambit truly delivers. The lead, May Li, is a very believable and likable character who is experiencing something familiar to anyone passionate about a sport or hobby. Once you get good enough to compete and earn awards, performance anxiety can start to overshadow the beauty and love of the game. For girls and women in chess, who are still only 15% of all registered players in the United States, those issues are compounded by sexism.
My ten-year-old daughter — a competitive chess player — and I both loved this feel-good, punny contemporary Middle Grade novel about remembering what matters and uniting across Middle School cliques. I loved that the chapters were named after chess vocabulary — all of it was explained well and connected to the plot in a charming way. The story was well-paced, with shorter chapters that helped us live the story alongside May. I found myself wondering how May would resolve her issues and how each chess game (and even a soccer game) would go — so delightfully unpredictable! I really wanted to taste May’s friend Becca’s baking. And the ending came together just perfectly! 💕
Finally, I have to note one of my favorite things about this book: the supportive Asian-American parents. It’s about time we laid those tired old “Tiger Mom” stereotypes to rest! Thank you Kyla Zhao for writing this inspiring and relatable tale and letting us read an advanced copy!
My ten-year-old daughter — a competitive chess player — and I both loved this feel-good, punny contemporary Middle Grade novel about remembering what matters and uniting across Middle School cliques. I loved that the chapters were named after chess vocabulary — all of it was explained well and connected to the plot in a charming way. The story was well-paced, with shorter chapters that helped us live the story alongside May. I found myself wondering how May would resolve her issues and how each chess game (and even a soccer game) would go — so delightfully unpredictable! I really wanted to taste May’s friend Becca’s baking. And the ending came together just perfectly! 💕
Finally, I have to note one of my favorite things about this book: the supportive Asian-American parents. It’s about time we laid those tired old “Tiger Mom” stereotypes to rest! Thank you Kyla Zhao for writing this inspiring and relatable tale and letting us read an advanced copy!
June 17, 2024
Wow, what a poignant and fun story of a young chess player who overcomes her own imposter syndrome amongst gender bias and the self-imposed pressure that comes from feeling the need to prove one’s worthiness. Kyla calls it a love letter to her younger self, and I’d say it’s a love letter to all young girls who let go of their dreams because they are good “for a girl” or the pressure destroys what was once fun.
May gets an incredible opportunity with her chess team to compete for the first time at a state tournament, where she is the only girl to place in the top 10 and she wins an award. Her male teammate and friend, who has the same number of points, is upset that May is now getting so much attention. A magazine article, a school billboard, and a trophy - to him it is not fair. Their friendship is tested and May has to decide if she still finds joy in the game or if the pressure to prove that she actually IS worthy of the praise is too much.
May, her friends and teammates learn valuable lessons about gender bias, the importance of creating opportunity and space for women in male dominated spaces, and focusing on what matters most - doing what you enjoy.
I enjoyed this book as an adult, and it is an excellent book for a young chapter-book reader.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May gets an incredible opportunity with her chess team to compete for the first time at a state tournament, where she is the only girl to place in the top 10 and she wins an award. Her male teammate and friend, who has the same number of points, is upset that May is now getting so much attention. A magazine article, a school billboard, and a trophy - to him it is not fair. Their friendship is tested and May has to decide if she still finds joy in the game or if the pressure to prove that she actually IS worthy of the praise is too much.
May, her friends and teammates learn valuable lessons about gender bias, the importance of creating opportunity and space for women in male dominated spaces, and focusing on what matters most - doing what you enjoy.
I enjoyed this book as an adult, and it is an excellent book for a young chapter-book reader.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2024
Review from my little sister Laly (12):
May is participating in her chess tournament, and she finishes in the top ten, tying for the same position with her friend, Ralph. However, May wins a trophy for being the only female player in the top ten, while Ralph receives nothing. This angers Ralph, leading him to challenge May to a bet on who will be placed on the first board in their upcoming national tournament.
This book was a delightful journey, weaving together themes of trust and friendship throughout its pages. As someone who had never delved into the world of chess literature before, I found myself pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this particular narrative. Although I’m not an adept chess player and lack a solid strategy, the characters drew me in completely. May was portrayed as a perceptive and thoughtful individual, embodying intelligence and insight. In contrast, Ralph came across as a loyal friend, though his fiery temper added an intriguing tension to their relationship.
Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a heartfelt tale that beautifully intertwines the complexities of friendship with the captivating backdrop of chess and trust.
Happy Reading, Laly ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @kylajzhao, for sending me a copy of your book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May is participating in her chess tournament, and she finishes in the top ten, tying for the same position with her friend, Ralph. However, May wins a trophy for being the only female player in the top ten, while Ralph receives nothing. This angers Ralph, leading him to challenge May to a bet on who will be placed on the first board in their upcoming national tournament.
This book was a delightful journey, weaving together themes of trust and friendship throughout its pages. As someone who had never delved into the world of chess literature before, I found myself pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this particular narrative. Although I’m not an adept chess player and lack a solid strategy, the characters drew me in completely. May was portrayed as a perceptive and thoughtful individual, embodying intelligence and insight. In contrast, Ralph came across as a loyal friend, though his fiery temper added an intriguing tension to their relationship.
Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a heartfelt tale that beautifully intertwines the complexities of friendship with the captivating backdrop of chess and trust.
Happy Reading, Laly ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @kylajzhao, for sending me a copy of your book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 17, 2025
May Li is the top middle school girl on the chess team. After success at the middle school state chess tournament, she receives a medal and a lot of attention she isn't used to. A writer from a well-known chess magazine writes an article about her. The school principal chooses two student-athletes as representatives to promote the school in an ad campaign. He chooses Mario, the star goalie on the soccer team and May Li. While she initially enjoys all of the accolades and praise, she realizes that success also comes with pressure, expectations, and some jealousy from Ralph, the other best player on the team. Ralph and May Li, who were once good friends, make a bet to determine who the best player is.
The pressure starts to get to May Li, and her confidence begins to waver. Along the way, she forgets that the joy of playing chess with her friends and the love of the game becomes secondary to winning. May Li's character is based on author Kyla Zhao's experience as a middle school chess player. Those with a good knowledge of chess may enjoy the book more than those who don't play the game due to some of the chess terms and strategy, but I still think non-chess players will enjoy this book.
The pressure starts to get to May Li, and her confidence begins to waver. Along the way, she forgets that the joy of playing chess with her friends and the love of the game becomes secondary to winning. May Li's character is based on author Kyla Zhao's experience as a middle school chess player. Those with a good knowledge of chess may enjoy the book more than those who don't play the game due to some of the chess terms and strategy, but I still think non-chess players will enjoy this book.
December 28, 2024
A MG book about dedication, anxiety and girl power.
♟️
May Li just earned a victory at the chess state championship and her team also got a bid to nationals. She returns to school a bit of a star, earning a spot on a billboard with a popular soccer player and getting an article written about her in a chess magazine. An argument with fellow teammate, Ralph, has her challenging him for the team captain role at nationals. The pressure is on as May tries to juggle chess club, outside of school practice and just being a middle school kid who wants to have fun with friends. Can she achieve everything she wants?
♟️
This was a really good middle grade book that deals with the topic of balancing school, friendships, and extra curricular activities. I see the struggle in my students, especially in 7th grade because that’s when they can do sports, cheer, dance, theater, etc. This was a great recommendation from Adrianna and I’m glad I bumped it up on my TBR.
CW: sexism
4.25 because the characters read like 4th or 5th graders, but they’re in 7th grade so I know my middle schoolers will struggle with this a bit.
♟️
May Li just earned a victory at the chess state championship and her team also got a bid to nationals. She returns to school a bit of a star, earning a spot on a billboard with a popular soccer player and getting an article written about her in a chess magazine. An argument with fellow teammate, Ralph, has her challenging him for the team captain role at nationals. The pressure is on as May tries to juggle chess club, outside of school practice and just being a middle school kid who wants to have fun with friends. Can she achieve everything she wants?
♟️
This was a really good middle grade book that deals with the topic of balancing school, friendships, and extra curricular activities. I see the struggle in my students, especially in 7th grade because that’s when they can do sports, cheer, dance, theater, etc. This was a great recommendation from Adrianna and I’m glad I bumped it up on my TBR.
CW: sexism
4.25 because the characters read like 4th or 5th graders, but they’re in 7th grade so I know my middle schoolers will struggle with this a bit.
August 22, 2024
I was enticed to read another chess-themed book after reading Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood, so I was glad to find May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao. The book is about May, an avid middle school chess player, navigating the chess world at a young age. After May achieves a chess victory and is recognized as a top female chess player at states, she starts learning how to manage the expectations and pressures that come with such titles.
I really enjoyed this book, even though I'm past the age demographic that it targets, because it reminded me so much of my own experiences in middle school, especially in STEM. I think Kyla Zhao captures the essence of middle school woes and growing up very well and delivers an excellent story that other tweens and teens can look up to. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and might reread it in a couple of years just to recapture the feeling of reading it for the first time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Kyla Zhao for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book, even though I'm past the age demographic that it targets, because it reminded me so much of my own experiences in middle school, especially in STEM. I think Kyla Zhao captures the essence of middle school woes and growing up very well and delivers an excellent story that other tweens and teens can look up to. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and might reread it in a couple of years just to recapture the feeling of reading it for the first time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Kyla Zhao for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2024
On the one hand -- gosh, there are a lot of great messages in this book -- mostly about sexism and how it pervades our lives; sometimes overtly and sometimes subtlety. And there's a ton about competition and figuring out why you spend the time in competitive arenas -- learning how to handle pressure, learning how to do things for your own reasons, not because someone else is watching. Also, there's some epic friendship missteps and makeups and new friends. May's parents and coaches are awesome, too.
On the other hand, May is kind of hard to like. Or it's hard to be in her head when she's working all this stuff out. It made me super anxious and frustrated, even though I loved seeing her get there in the end. And all the messages are a lot as well -- sometimes they feel a bit didactic because there's just so much wisdom being passed down. Still, it reminds me of Nelly in the Great British Bakeoff when she says that she entered the competition for her children --"It's not to teach them to win, it is to teach them to enjoy." and that message is singing strongly here.
On the other hand, May is kind of hard to like. Or it's hard to be in her head when she's working all this stuff out. It made me super anxious and frustrated, even though I loved seeing her get there in the end. And all the messages are a lot as well -- sometimes they feel a bit didactic because there's just so much wisdom being passed down. Still, it reminds me of Nelly in the Great British Bakeoff when she says that she entered the competition for her children --"It's not to teach them to win, it is to teach them to enjoy." and that message is singing strongly here.
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