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Alex and the Wednesday Chess Club
Alex first learned to play chess when he was four years old. He loved it. He loved the pieces, the challenge, and the sweet taste that winning left in his mouth. He loved it until he played a chess game with moldy old Uncle Hooya...and lost. Then Alex decided to give up chess for good.
Now in third grade Alex wants to give chess another try. He joins the chess club and discovers that chess is fun again. He plays his friends, he listens to the coach, and he practices at school, at home, and on the computer. Alex is a chess maniac! All of this practice is leading up to the big tournament, where Alex finds himself face-to-face with Little Cousin Hooya. Memories of his earlier defeat return, but now is his chance to finally beat a Hooya. Is Alex up to the challenge?
Janet Wong's lyrical text, complemented by Stacey Schuett's bright illustrations, will inspire chess players of all ages to practice, practice, practice -- and to avoid moldy old Uncle Hooya!
Now in third grade Alex wants to give chess another try. He joins the chess club and discovers that chess is fun again. He plays his friends, he listens to the coach, and he practices at school, at home, and on the computer. Alex is a chess maniac! All of this practice is leading up to the big tournament, where Alex finds himself face-to-face with Little Cousin Hooya. Memories of his earlier defeat return, but now is his chance to finally beat a Hooya. Is Alex up to the challenge?
Janet Wong's lyrical text, complemented by Stacey Schuett's bright illustrations, will inspire chess players of all ages to practice, practice, practice -- and to avoid moldy old Uncle Hooya!
40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 24, 2004
28 people want to read
About the author
Janet S. Wong
50 books31 followersJanet S. Wong was born in Los Angeles, and grew up in Southern and Northern California. As part of her undergraduate program at UCLA, she spent her junior year in France, studying art history at the Université de Bordeaux. When she returned from France, Janet founded the UCLA Immigrant Children's Art Project, a program focused on teaching refugee children to express themselves through art.
After graduating from UCLA, summa cum laude, with a B.A. in History and College Honors, Janet then obtained her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she was a director of the Yale Law and Technology Association and worked for New Haven Legal Aid. After practicing corporate and labor law for a few years for GTE and Universal Studios Hollywood, she made a dramatic career change—choosing to write for young people instead. Her successful switch from law to children’s literature has been the subject of several articles and television programs, most notably an O Magazine article, a "Remembering Your Spirit" segment on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and the Fine Living Channel’s "Radical Sabbatical."
Janet's poems and stories have been featured in many textbooks and anthologies, and also in some more unusual venues. Poems from Behind the Wheel have been performed on a car-talk radio show. "Albert J. Bell" from A Suitcase of Seaweed was selected to appear on 5,000 subway and bus posters as part of the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority's "Poetry in Motion" program, and was later highlighted on the Hallmark Channel’s "New Morning" show. And, in April 2003, Janet was one of five children’s authors invited to read at The White House Easter Egg Roll.
Janet and her books have received numerous awards and honors, such as the International Reading Association's "Celebrate Literacy Award" for exemplary service in the promotion of literacy, and the prestigious Stone Center Recognition of Merit, given by the Claremont Graduate School. Janet also has been appointed to two terms on the Commission on Literature of the National Council of Teachers of English.
Janet currently resides near Princeton, NJ, with her husband Glenn and her son Andrew.
After graduating from UCLA, summa cum laude, with a B.A. in History and College Honors, Janet then obtained her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she was a director of the Yale Law and Technology Association and worked for New Haven Legal Aid. After practicing corporate and labor law for a few years for GTE and Universal Studios Hollywood, she made a dramatic career change—choosing to write for young people instead. Her successful switch from law to children’s literature has been the subject of several articles and television programs, most notably an O Magazine article, a "Remembering Your Spirit" segment on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and the Fine Living Channel’s "Radical Sabbatical."
Janet's poems and stories have been featured in many textbooks and anthologies, and also in some more unusual venues. Poems from Behind the Wheel have been performed on a car-talk radio show. "Albert J. Bell" from A Suitcase of Seaweed was selected to appear on 5,000 subway and bus posters as part of the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority's "Poetry in Motion" program, and was later highlighted on the Hallmark Channel’s "New Morning" show. And, in April 2003, Janet was one of five children’s authors invited to read at The White House Easter Egg Roll.
Janet and her books have received numerous awards and honors, such as the International Reading Association's "Celebrate Literacy Award" for exemplary service in the promotion of literacy, and the prestigious Stone Center Recognition of Merit, given by the Claremont Graduate School. Janet also has been appointed to two terms on the Commission on Literature of the National Council of Teachers of English.
Janet currently resides near Princeton, NJ, with her husband Glenn and her son Andrew.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 10, 2011
Published in 2004 by Margaret K. McElderry
Interest Level: 3rd-6th Grade
This is a book about Alex who tries to find his place at school and eventually finds it in the Wednesday Chess Club that he was so resistant to previously. The text and illustrations move the story forward well and provide an honest, realistic account of how Alex experiences school and different extracurricular activities. This book does not focus on ethnic differences, but it does use the stereotype that Asians are good at certain activities, such as chess. It goes through themes of identity, fitting in, friends, and finding an interest. I think that many students could relate to this as do I, but the multicultural elements are more subdued than some of Wong's other works.
Interest Level: 3rd-6th Grade
This is a book about Alex who tries to find his place at school and eventually finds it in the Wednesday Chess Club that he was so resistant to previously. The text and illustrations move the story forward well and provide an honest, realistic account of how Alex experiences school and different extracurricular activities. This book does not focus on ethnic differences, but it does use the stereotype that Asians are good at certain activities, such as chess. It goes through themes of identity, fitting in, friends, and finding an interest. I think that many students could relate to this as do I, but the multicultural elements are more subdued than some of Wong's other works.
April 24, 2021
Four-year-old Alex learned to play chess from his parents, sometimes using a special chessboard made from bread with olives, bananas, pretzels, cheese, cookies, and chocolate for chess pieces. Alex loved chess, until he played hungry neighbor Uncle Hooya. As Alex grew older he joined many clubs, but not the chess club. Finally in third grade Alex was tired of the taste of mud and decided to give chess another try. Large and colorful gouache and ink illustrations add interest to the characters and plot. Short “chapters” make this an ideal picture book alternative for early chapter readers.
May 3, 2022
This book was funny and my kids were rooting for Alex to get better at chess. My kids are now asking to play chess with food for pieces, we will probably try it!
August 16, 2018
Alex plays chess when little, but after losing to a next door neighbor (adult), doesn't want to play at school.
He keeps busy doing other activities, but when he has a rough football game he decides to try chess again.
After weeks of practice and puzzles, there's a school tournament and then a bigger tournament. Alex plays, losing some and occasionally winning.
He keeps busy doing other activities, but when he has a rough football game he decides to try chess again.
After weeks of practice and puzzles, there's a school tournament and then a bigger tournament. Alex plays, losing some and occasionally winning.
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April 16, 2024Why I chose this book:
I chose this book because it shows that anybody can learn to play chess.
What I liked about the book:
I liked the book because it explained the whole story of how Alex learned how to play and enjoy chess.
How I would use this book in a future classroom:
I would use this book to promote joining the school’s chess club.
I chose this book because it shows that anybody can learn to play chess.
What I liked about the book:
I liked the book because it explained the whole story of how Alex learned how to play and enjoy chess.
How I would use this book in a future classroom:
I would use this book to promote joining the school’s chess club.
April 23, 2024
I liked it well enough, but do believe I'd like it more if I played chess and/or was competitive. (Not sure how keen on the ending I am.) I love that Alex is a well-rounded kid, knows how to make friends, plays sports, etc.
I wonder about the text. Is each section meant to be a chapter, or a poem? They sound like poems to me. Definitely for independent readers, not little kids.
I wonder about the text. Is each section meant to be a chapter, or a poem? They sound like poems to me. Definitely for independent readers, not little kids.
June 24, 2015
My dad tried to teach me how to play chess when I was in elementary school and I was bored out of my mind. Luckily, Wong makes chess a lot more interesting in this book about a boy who rediscovers his love of the game after joining his school's club.
February 14, 2012
Loved the chess tournament portrayal in this book. Perfect for my chess playing students!
April 27, 2014
May be good for children interested in chess, but I didn't like this book. A little boring.
March 18, 2018
Genre: realistic fiction. It's about a kid playing chess
Audience: late primary, early intermediate. It might be a little difficult for very young children to fully grasp the story, but they'd probably still enjoy it.
Text to Text: It was difficult for me to think of a book that is related to this story, but it does kind of remind me of Salt in His Shoes. Although the stories are pretty different, I found a connection because in both stories the moms encourage the boys to stick with their activity, chess or basketball, and they don't want their kids to give up.
Text to world: If there is something you enjoy doing, you'll probably come back to it. In the story, Alex quit playing chess for years after losing to his neighbor, but eventually he started playing again and had fun doing it.
Text to self: I played softball with a pretty good team in elementary school, but not in 7th grade. When I started playing again in 8th, my team didn't even win one game, but we learned and had lots of fun.
Audience: late primary, early intermediate. It might be a little difficult for very young children to fully grasp the story, but they'd probably still enjoy it.
Text to Text: It was difficult for me to think of a book that is related to this story, but it does kind of remind me of Salt in His Shoes. Although the stories are pretty different, I found a connection because in both stories the moms encourage the boys to stick with their activity, chess or basketball, and they don't want their kids to give up.
Text to world: If there is something you enjoy doing, you'll probably come back to it. In the story, Alex quit playing chess for years after losing to his neighbor, but eventually he started playing again and had fun doing it.
Text to self: I played softball with a pretty good team in elementary school, but not in 7th grade. When I started playing again in 8th, my team didn't even win one game, but we learned and had lots of fun.
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January 16, 2019This book is about Alex and his relationship with chess. It’s text-heavy, so it’s better suited for older kids.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews