Not an Easy Win

by Chrystal D. Giles

FOUR STARRED REVIEWS!
Twelve-year old Lawrence is new to chess--can he find a way to get on the board, even though the odds are stacked against him?

Find out in this powerful novel about family, forgiveness, and figuring out who you are when you don’t make the rules—just right for middle-grade fans of Nic Stone and Jason Reynolds.

*“Essential middle grade and tween realistic reading.”— School Library Journal , starred Review

Lawrence is ready for a win. . . .

Nothing’s gone right for Lawrence since he had to move from Charlotte to Larenville, North Carolina, to live with his granny. When Lawrence ends up in one too many fights at his new school, he gets expelled. The fight wasn’t his fault, but since his pop’s been gone, it feels like no one listens to what Lawrence has to say.

Instead of going to school, Lawrence starts spending his days at the rec center, helping out a neighbor who runs a chess program. Some of the kids in the program will be picked to compete in the Charlotte Classic chess tournament. Could this be Lawrence's chance to go home?

Lawrence doesn’t know anything about chess, but something about the center—and the kids there—feels right. Lawrence thought the game was over . . . but does he have more moves left than he thought?

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Friendship, Family, Chess

256 pages, Library Binding

Published February 28, 2023

About the author

Chrystal D. Giles is a champion for diversity and representation in children’s literature. She made her debut with Take Back the Block, which received multiple starred reviews, was a Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and NPR Best Book, and won the IRA Social Justice Literature Award. Her latest middle-grade novel, Not An Easy Win, received four starred reviews and has been named an ALSC Notable Children's Book. Chrystal lives outside Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and son.

Chrystal is represented by Elizabeth Bewley at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read Chrystal D. Giles' middle grade debut for a while. I'm glad I decided to pick this one up because it makes me more excited to dive into it. CW: parental incarceration, absent parent, bullying

Not an Easy Win follows Lawrence who has just moved to a smaller, more rural town from Charlotte, NC to live with his grandmother. While there Lawrence finds himself getting into a lot of trouble for fighting due to bullying. Eventually, he gets kicked out of school and is forced to spend time at the local rec center. What Lawrence doesn't expect is to assist a local community member in running a chess program. It shocks him even more to learn how interested he is in not only helping, but also learning so that he, too, can compete.

What Worked: Whew ya'll! This was an ode to the South if I've ever read one. There were so many pieces and parts that reminded me of how I grew up for several years in a small country town in the South. Giles does an excellent drop addressing poverty throughout the narrative. Lawrence's mother ultimately loses her job and has to take an unwanted job to help make sure the family is taken care of in all ways. They don't have much and it's evident in the meals that they eat on a weekly basis. I grew up in a single parent household and some of those meals were a staple in our household when my mom couldn't afford anything else. There was just a deep and personal connection to this experience that I wasn't anticipating. I LOVED the connection to chess. It's such a powerful and fulfilling game and to see Lawrence build the connection to it and the other kids who played chess was beautiful. Giles also does a wonderful job creating this community of Black kids that feel like home for Lawrence. After attending a predominately White school where he faced racism and bullying, it was nice to see him find that space of comfort. There was also exploration of first love/relationship that was charming. It doesn't necessarily work out the way that readers expect, but I love to see healthy explorations of romantic relationships in middle grade books.

Overall, this was a great book. I'm glad I took the chance to read this book, but now I need to go back and read Giles' first book Take Back the Block.

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an Easy Win is a heartwarming, realistic, and satisfying book about poverty, having an incarcerated parent, and finding belonging in chess. Readers will root for Lawrence as he figures out his strengths and learns to manage his weaknesses. I also learned way more about chess from this book than I have from other people who’ve tried to teach me in the past. An excellent follow-up to Giles’s debut, Take Back the Block.

Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/not-an...

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by Follett First Look

Lawrence lives with his mother, who works at Bob's Diner and his younger sister Nikko in their grandmother's house. The family left Charlotte to stay with Granny after some problems with Lawrence's father. He feels like he's had a target on his back ever since he started at the mostly white Andrew Jackson Middle School, and he's just been expelled for being involved in a fight that he didn't start. Instead, he'll be doing online schooling. Granny doesn't want him hanging around the house all day, so he approaches neighbor Mr. Dennis, and ends up working at the Carver Recreation Center during the day, setting up chairs, cleaning, and doing other chores after he finishes his schoolwork for the day. He's glad to be doing something; after all, Granny says that "a man who don't work don't eat"! There are some problems with the son of Junior, who runs the center. Deuce is angry, and tries to pick fighting with Lawrence. Lawrence knows that he can't be involved in another fight, and tries to understand why Deuce acts this way. A bright spot is Twyla, and Lawrence gets interested in chess after he finds out that she plays. He practices a lot and loses to Deuce, but picks it up quickly enough that he is approached about being the third person to attend a chess tournament in Charlotte. Deuce has struggled with his grades, so Junior has banned him from playing basketball, and suggests to Lawrence that the two of them can work on their chess moves together. At first, Deuce is reluctant and prickly, but Lawrence works hard to try to find a common ground, which ends up being music. They have other things in common, things that are hard to deal with and which neither boy wants to discuss. The tournament is an exciting opportunity, but when Deuce runs into problems with other competitors, will Lawrence be able to help?
Strengths: There are not a lot of books where students have incarcerated parents, but it is more common than one might think. I liked that while his father's being "gone" affected Lawrence's life deeply, the book was not about his father being in jail, rather like Baptiste's The Swag if in the Socks, a huge favorite at my school. Lawrence does become more thoughtful in his actions, and learns not to react as much when people say things to him, which is a skill we could all use! His family is supportive, and I loved Granny's lessons about working and cooking. (Even though having meat sauce with spaghetti and hot dogs in the beans was pretty fancy, it's a good lesson in saving money. I'll have to pass on the canned salmon, though. The bones always freaked me out!) His crush on Twyla played out in a realistic way, and I liked that he was able to remain friends with her even after their conversation. There is a lot of chess detail that I didn't understand, since I have never played the game, but this will be a bit hit with readers who do play. Definitely purchasing this one!
Weaknesses: It's sad that the principal at Lawrence's school hasn't taken the time to understand what is going on in his student's life and to protect him from people who are bullying him. That said, students at my school would probably say that I put too much emphasis on "law and order", but I just want people to be safe. (I do try to be positive and constructive when telling students that they shouldn't pretend to hit each other, because it might escalate. This is a topic that weighs heavily on me.)
What I really think: Like this author's Take Back the Block, this is a good balance of personal problems, societal issues of racism, and family relationships. The inclusion of chess will appeal to readers who liked Ponti's Forbidden City (2022), Sorosiak's Always, Clementine (2002), Wishingrad's The Verdigris Pawn (2021), Adewume's My Name is Tani (2020), Gerber's Focused (2019), Klass' Grand Master (2014) Blackwood's Curiosity (2014), Myers' Checkmate (2011), Wallace's Perpetual Check (2009) and Neri's Chess Rumble (2007).

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like home - a true love letter to Southern culture. Lawrence's voice was pitch perfect and I loved getting to know him through his struggle to become the author of his own story. As he finds out, chess is a game for thinkers, and chess, like life, is usually not an easy win.

So many things were done well in this book - the flashes of Pop, Ma's efforts to make things work, Granny’s hard love, friendships, crushes, authentic cultural notes. Most of all, coming to terms with the fact that the people we love most, through choice and circumstance, can break our hearts wide open.

This well-paced story is an easy win.

[Aterra Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me miss teaching middle school English. This would be an amazing class text to use to teach so many literary elements.

Outside of the teacher perspective, I loved this book. Such great characters, especially the main character Laurence. Watching his struggles and how he made growth throughout the text was great. He learned so much about life in short amount of time while also seeing that his circumstances are experienced by more people than he expected. Great book for middle grade kids.

[Railey Banasky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. There were some good parts but overall I found it pretty annoying. The main character had a horrible attitude and I kept waiting for it to get corrected and it never really did. Overall it felt self indulgent. That being said, there was enough growth/maturing for me to appreciate the plot by the end.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chrystal Giles’ second novel for middle grade readers is a win! Life isn’t easy for Lawrence. His father is in prison and he’s living at his grandmother’s with his mother and younger sister. He attends a school that is predominantly white, and is always taking blame for the fights he gets into. The book opens with the last straw; Lawrence has to finish out 7th grade through remote learning. But just when he hits rock bottom, he finds a way to turn his life around through learning chess and making new friends at the local rec center.

I love how chess is woven into the story; the game becomes a metaphor for life, and could function as an entry point for readers who might be inspired to learn. I was rooting for Lawrence from page one. His earnest, heartwarming voice handles serious issues in a way that will make a memorable impact on readers of all ages.

[Libba Kellner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been very discouraged lately by the book challenges in my state and county. I’ve been discouraged by the failure of so many adults to understand the importance of representation—of kids being able to see themselves and their stories in the books they read. Recently, however, I learned that an entire middle school in my town is reading Not an Easy Win. This decision to have the entire school read together and to pick this book—those two decisions give me so much hope. This is a beautiful story that points out some ugliness in our world, ugliness we need to see and acknowledge so we can change it. It’s a story of hope, too, about how a character can truly write his own story even in the face of the ugliness. Read it!

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about mastering a game of skill and mastering your own actions and reaction. Well told with fully rounded characters.

[Jaclyn Hillis]

“I liked the Queen best, mostly because she could move all over the board in any direction and move more than one space at a time. The king lasted to the very end but could only move one space at a time. So really, the Queen did the work while the King stayed pretty still - which was weird, but honestly seemed to make a lot of sense. The queens in my life worked hard too.”

Lawrence learns how to play chess at the local rec center, after getting expelled from school. He was getting bullied at school, which was predominantly white btw, and fights resulted from him standing up for himself the only way he knew how. It wasn’t his fault, but no one was listening.

“We fought for Black kids to go to school with white kids. Why in the world would we give that chance up?”

The author addressed the theme of poverty with such tender care. This aspect of the book really made me reflect on my childhood, living with a single parent, as we also stretched the groceries as long as we could and didn’t go out to eat for meals. Lawrence’s mother was pretty amazing, and she sacrificed so much for her kids, from moving them in with her mother, to taking a dreadful job at the chicken plant. I also enjoyed how Lawrence’s relationship with his grandmother grew.

But the ultimate highlight of this book was the chess playing, and finding friendship and community in unlikely places.

My sixth grade math teacher taught our class how to play chess, and I wish I remembered how.

[Jennybeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kind of hate the cover, which is a bummer, because this is a firecracker of a book. Excellent characters, living through a hard time and finding ways forward. Laurence misses his father, worries about his mom and sister, is intimidated by his grandmother, and is struggling with white kids beating him up regularly at school. I hate that the message of this book is that there is no good reason to fight. I love that the message of this book is that there's no good reason to fight. I appreciate so much that one of the other kids gives him the context of taking power back -- why did you let him provoke you? You're smarter than that. And then chess becomes a theme, and it is about looking outside the moment to the larger context -- masterfully done, and messaging that I think the audience will be able to use.

I also really love that this is a story about hard work, realistic expectations, and things gradually improving. Also that there are incarcerated parents and complicated feelings.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lawrence just got expelled from school after another fight. His family relocated from Charlotte after his dad left and didn’t come back (he’s been in and out of prison), and now he lives in a podunk town in NC with his mom, little sister, and grandma. His grandma insists that he can’t spend his days at home watching tv while doing online school, and a neighbor invites him to help out at the “rec”. Soon Lawrence has made some new friends (and developed a crush), and starts learning how to play chess. As he learns about chess strategy, he also picks up some basic life strategies and starts making better decisions and dealing with his pent up frustrations about his family life.

Listened to the audiobook, which was well done. The author does such a good job of getting in Lawrence’s head and describing his feelings. It is so nice to see him learn and grow as he starts connecting with the other rec kids.

[Jessica Vitalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Chrystal Giles has penned a deeply personal novel about what it means to grow up in a family––and a society––that won't give you any breaks. It's bad enough that Lawrence's father is "away", that they have to move in with his strict, grouchy grandmother, and that his mother has to take a job working the night shift, which means he'll hardly see her. But when he's unfairly expelled from school, he also has to find something to do with his days. He ends up hanging out at the rec center with a neighbor, Mr. Dennis, and takes up chess in an effort to impress a girl. Over time, he builds his confidence and learns to make the right moves––on the board and in his own life. Middle grade readers will root for Lawrence while identifying with the perplexities of navigating a world that often feels unfair. A must-read!

[Lucy Appel · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun to do a middle school read aloud. Kids don’t get read to once they hit a certain age and my students actually liked something and they liked this book. They said omg it’s so unfair that all these things were against him bc he’s black and they were happy he got to go to the school with other black kids and his friends and they are so upset he lost the chess tournament and that Twyla friendzoned him twice - I love read aloud and that. My students are sweet and accepting even though the messages they took away from the book are different than what I took from it

[Amy Loewe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars is what I would give this book, only because it is a little slow pa ed to hold young readers attention. I loved the concept of using chess to teach students to stip and think about their next move and what the response might be prior to making it. A great story of learning to handle emotions brought on by the world that you have no control over

[Beth Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent middle grade novel! A fast read and full of lovable characters learning to work hard, work through challenges, and ultimately, about how we need each other, especially during adversity. A good bittersweet ending, if a little predictable. Perfect for ages 8-14.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic fiction that I enjoyed more the further I got into the book and allowed the characters to develop.

[Heather Rosales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Battle of the Books book #2 - likable and relatable characters. Lawrence gets kicked out of school and finds s new home, a new hobby/skill, and a new (better? ) version of himself at the rec center.

Spoilers:





Things don't turn out all sunshine and roses, but wins are still highlighted and loses are learned from.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chrystal Giles 2nd middle grade novel is just as terrific as TAKE BACK THE BLOCK. She doesn’t sugar coat the lives and flaws of her characters but does allow them to learn and change things for the better. Lawrence can’t seem to control his temper, and while he does have to deal with a school filled with white faces that don’t seem to want him there, fighting gets him expelled and stuck at his Granny’s house with nothing to do but get in her way. When his attempt at getting out of her way results in his neighbor, Mr. Dennis, taking him to the area rec center, Lawrence discovers friends and a purpose—to play chess well enough to earn a spot competing at a big tournament. Simple summary, but far more detailed and complicated changes happen not only in Lawrence’s life but in the life of his grandmother and a foe-turned-friend named Deuce. Readers who live in more affluent areas will take a turn at walking in the shoes of those who struggle to put food on the table. Those who are fortunate enough to attend schools with somewhat equal representation of people or ones that do not display blatant prejudice will hopefully get a sense of the reality that many face day in and day out. All students may be inspired to try something new (maybe even chess!) or to reach out to a classmate they have not usually interacted with. Excellent choice for those in grades 4-7. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and while Lawrence is expelled for fighting, there are no detailed fight scenes. Cast of characters is primarily Black.

Thanks for the print arc, Chrystal Giles and Random House Kids.

[Christina Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving story with multigenerational family, strong friendships, community, and a big-hearted MC who finds a love for chess and navigates the changing circumstances around him with so much compassion. I loved Take Back the Block and I love this one just as much. I’m a Chrystal D. Giles fan forever.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an engaging middle grade book that covers the school-to-prison pipeline, exploitation of the lower class, and how incarceration impacts families and places them in poverty.

[Zachary Brinkman · Rating 3 out of 5]

OH MY GOD, I have gotten so behind on my reading schedule!

Because of uncontrollable things going on in my personal life, I haven't had much time to sit down and read like I normally would and that means I am way behind my normal pacing here... if you know me, though, you know that I love to read in "themes" and this was the first novel I wanted to pick up for Black History Month—yes, I am well aware we are a week out of February at this point but I am going to try my best to get all caught up and back on track these next few days.

I mean, I can't just ignore Black-authored books because it's March now, right?

To be honest, this was a book that I just randomly decided to pick up because my neighborhood library had it available and I saw that it took place in North Carolina [which is where I am from and where I currently live]. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't really my "type" of book but I thought it was decent enough.

Chrystal D. Giles' Not an Easy Win is a Middle Grades realistic fiction that explores themes of poverty, violence as well as racism in a Southern school, incarcerated parents, and the importance of an outlet... in this case, that outlet being chess. While I thought that a lot worked well throughout this short book, there was nothing inherently unique or resounding about it to me—there are so many books that could fit the bill of a down-on-his-luck-middle-school-boy-who-finds-purpose and it felt like just another one of those, you know?

As such, I am going to have to give this a fairly average rating. Take that with a grain of salt, however, because I am not this book's target audience nor can I personally relate to the characters or what they are going through in this story.

“I remembered him laughing—the look of it, the way his mouth opened wide and the wrinkle lines that streaked his face. But for some reason I couldn’t hear the sound. It had been too long, I guess, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make it form.”

Let me start my proper review of this novel, as I normally do, with the setting: it was great! As I mentioned above, this book takes place in North Carolina and it goes back and forth between urban Charlotte and the rural town of Larenville [which I assume is fictional because I have never heard of a town called that before]. I know that Giles grew up and still lives down here and I could feel the love she has for this state and its culture. This was easily one of the best aspects of the book for me and it served its role as a backdrop well.

As far as the plot goes, it was fairly linear and mostly predictable. While I wouldn't necessarily say it had me "hooked," the pacing never really lulled and it progressed nicely enough. Like I said, though, this may have to do with the fact that I am not this book's intended audience.

More than anything, I think I appreciated the themes that the author chose to explore here. Giles did a really good job at exemplifying what institutionalized racism can look like and how it doesn't always come from the rednecks waving the Stars and Bars in their truck bed down the road. This was weaved seamlessly throughout the story and it never felt too "on the nose" or anything—something that I consistently struggle with when it comes to Middle Grades. In addition to this, too, I thought that the conversation about having a parent who was incarcerated was handled with care and dealt with realistically.

Though I said that the plot was preditacle, which it was for the most part, I was surprised when the romance didn't pan out the way the reader expected it to or that the chess tournament wasn't cleverly won by one of the rec center kids. I'll give credit where credit is due and applaud the author for making this part of the story more realistic than idealistic.

I will say that I would have liked to see more chess in a book about... well, chess! There were honestly more references to music and melodies than to the actual gameplay of chess and I thought that was an interesting approach to take here.

The characters were fine and were fleshed out decently enough.

Overall, this was a good enough book that I think would do really well in a middle school English curriculum but wasn't the most entertaining outside of that. I know that this author has other works out there, too, so maybe I'll give them a shot one day soon... anyways, onto the next one.

[kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book floored me and as a person that knows absolutely nothing about chess, this book, even though a large portion of it is about chess, was heartwarming, relatable and everything I could want in a book about a topic I know nothing about.

The book follows a young boy named Lawrence who gets kicked out of his old school for fighting and begins working at the local community center. Although his interest in chess stems from his desire to impress a girl who comes to the community center, what started as a casual interest grows into something bigger.

One thing I appreciated about this book is that while Lawrence grows throughout his journey, the Lawrence we meet at the start of the book is not completely eradicated by the end of the story. He's learned some things and is putting those lessons into action, but he has not changed who he is. Lawrence has been dealt some tough cards, but those, too, do not change Lawrence and do not harden his character. They are aspects of his story, but they are not his entire story and this is something more authors should keep in mind, especially when writing about young Black people.

So often books about young Black kids are bogged down by trauma in order to relay a certain message, which isn't to say that Lawrence's journey doesn't have anything to say, it is just not the only things the author is saying and moreover, the narrative isn't lost in that message.

By the end of the story, I was rooting for Lawrence and his crew. Everyone is well-rounded and feels real, even his crush and his bully, which I appreciate, as two two characters are often one-dimensional and flat as they relate to the main character.

Honestly, I didn't want this book to end, but I am so glad that it ends the way that it does.

[Cierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotionally gripping and realistic story that illustrates poverty in the South while touching on topics like the school to prison pipeline, belonging, friendship, and first crushes. This was one of my most anticipated MG reads of 2023 and it exceeded my expectations!

Synopsis: Ever since Lawerence moved to Larenville, NC from Charlotte to live with his granny, nothing has gone right. His transition from his previous urban middle school to his brand new predominantly White, rural one has been hard to say the least. When Lawrence ends up in one too many fights, he finds himself expelled. Truthfully, the fights weren’t his fault, but his mom and granny don’t want to hear all that. If Lawrence wants to stay under his granny’s roof, then he must find a job. With no where to go, he ends up spending his time at the rec center with his elderly neighbor Mr. Dennis who runs a chess program. Lawrence soon realizes that he’s a natural at chess, but is he skilled enough to compete?

There’s so much to love about this one, but I especially loved how Lawerence’s relationship with his grandmother developed throughout the story. It reminded me so much of my own childhood growing up in a multigenerational home, except my grandmother was way nicer. 😂 I also found the crush that Lawerence had on Twyla so sweet. It really gave the story a little something extra.🥹♟

Teacher friends, add it to your classroom library ASAP! It’s perfect for 5th-7th grade! Fans of Black Brother, Black Brother will really enjoy this one.

For more middle grade and YA reviews, check out my Instagram @onedetailedteacher
https://www.instagram.com/onedetailed...

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

African-American Lawrence is used to being at the mercy of others, and yet somehow everything always winds up being his fault. He didn’t ask his Pop to leave, or to move from Charlotte to his grandma’s small southern town, and he certainly didn’t ask to be stuck in mostly-white, Andrew Jackson middle school, where he is lucky to get in a couple of punches during all too regular beat-downs. So, when he is expelled for fighting, and staying home in his strict granny’s way is NOT an option, suddenly Lawrence has to figure out what to do with himself. Luckily he seeks out an elderly neighbor who gives him a job helping out at the Rec Center. A friendship, a crush and figuring out how to move past getting off on the wrong foot with the Rec director’s son, all push Lawrence towards an interest in chess and gaining a spot on the Rec. Centers’ team. As in her Take Back the Block (2021), Giles writes a winning and believable adolescent boy. Lawrence navigates every kids worst-case scenario – friendless, misunderstood, expelled and disappointing those you care about. Watching him come back from that low: forgiving and seeking forgiveness, standing ground and developing skill in considering his next move, is pure pleasure. Some two-dimensional, villainous, white, chess competitors make a brief appearance and detract from the otherwise satisfying ending. While there are plenty of chess play specifics, the heart of the story is about the kind of moves every kid has the chance to make, and the message of how to take charge of shaping your own story, applies to us all.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for and Advance Readers Copy.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh I loved this one so much. I picked the audiobook because it was a new release and for the cover and I was not disappointed by diving in without knowing anything else. The story reminds me of another newer title, Hands for it's gentleness.

Lawrence is a kid who hasn't been given a lot in life because of fights in school he keeps getting kicked out but it is more because he's misunderstood rather than a troublemaker. His mom has a minimum wage job that supports the family, but not enough and now they're living with her mom and during the week, there's also Lawrence's twin nieces who stay there as well. He tries to not be a bother. And now that he's been kicked out of his last school and doing work online for school, he's been told-- no work, no eat. And while he should just be a kid, he also wants some responsibility, which he gets when he starts going to a rec center with the neighbor who puts him to work during the day and after school. He learns chess, but earns his keep. He has male mentors, but it's preached at. And he turns that into some new friendships and one sweet almost-romance which is handled so lovingly that I adored it.

Chess is making a big comeback and I am excited to add this one to the collection for that reason alone, but the interpersonal connections and ode to his hometown when he gets to visit that also is sweet.

[Jeni Coxson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did NOT enjoy this book. I thought it was going to be a thought provoking book, with lots of chess play and chess analogies. Instead, it was a book incredibly light on anything related to chess, and heavy on whining and complaining. The main character was always griping about how nothing was ever his fault, and everything was always unfair. It wasn’t his fault he got in fights, it wasn’t his fault he was expelled from school, and he was always the victim.

While I understand that life is in fact unfair, it is unfair and challenging for EVERYONE. Assuming that some people don’t experience trials or challenges or inequalities based on their skin color is naive as best, and more likely promotes racial tensions and misplaced anger. Are there fair skinned people who are racist, bigoted, and absolutely horrible? Yes, without a question. But are there fair skinned people who are not racist, and actually care about everyone and show everyone dignity? Yes, without a question here too. However, the author doesn’t show this, and only describes fair skinned people as antagonistic jerks. Such a polarizing, narrow point of view should not be used in young literature.

While being a victim may not be voluntary, remaining a victim is a choice. The main character retained his victim attitude and continued complaining, right up through the last chess match of the book. Instead of addressing these issues in a constructive manner, the book continued to build barriers and shut down communication. Would not recommend.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawrence and his family have had a "double dose of hard" lately. Lawrence's dad is in prison, he, his mom and sister have had to move three times since and now are staying with their unwelcoming grandmother. In his new school, where Lawrence is a rare boy of color, the bullies line up and as the story opens he is expelled for fighting. His mother negotiates his finishing 7th grade in an online program and he has to spend the day working at the rec center, an after-school program for kids. There, Lawrence discovers a chess program, a group of friends, and an enemy.

Giles puts readers squarely in the shoes of 12-year-old Lawrence, doing an masterful job of walking us through the painfully authentic emotions of this endearing tween struggling to understand his upside down world and find his way. Fascinated by the game of chess, Lawrence develops not only the skills for the game but for managing his temper and dealing with the issues in his life. It is done with great finesse and Lawrence's progress and set-backs feel true.

The entire cast of characters is vivid and fully rounded from his stressed grandmother, to the kids at the rec center and even to his absent father. Lawrence and his hard-fought wins are as heart-warming as they are believable. I was rooting for him from page one and so will every reader!

[Maria Steffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Liked:
I truly enjoyed the main character, Lawrence. I appreciated how the story addressed things that happen to you and how you react to them are both factors of how easy/hard your life may be. Lawrence was dealing with the challenges of poverty, an incarcerated parent, and racism. He reacted by fighting and feeling resent. Lawrence had to learn new ways to solve problems and deal with his feelings, and the connections and friendships he made through the community rec center helped to build his confidence to do so.

I loved the attention to the functions of community centers and the positive impact they can have in youth lives. I also loved the Chess connection throughout the story and the introduction (for some) of Chess as a competition. I believe the details of game play in the story may inspire kids to want to learn to play themselves.

What I Didn't Like:
The representation of the principal at Lawrence's school. He couldn't be bothered with hearing multiple sides of the story when Lawrence was repeatedly getting into fights at school.

Book Promo:
4th-6th
ICCA List 2025-26
Give an example of something in the story that happened to Lawrence and how he reacted. Discuss who was right/wrong...

[Susan Lefman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawrence age 12 will be completing the school year online after one too many fights. Grammy says that "a man who don't work don't eat", so when Mr. Dennis offers to take him to the rec center and puts him to work setting up and taking down equipment he goes.

In the afternoons, he sets up the chess room and with Mr. Dennis as his guide he works towards earning a spot at the chess tables at the rec center and perhaps to bigger challenges.

At the rec center he makes new friends Twyla, Jada and Lin, however Deuce isn't up for making friends. Stolen earbuds lead to a fist fight, but do Deuce and Lawrence have more in common than they originally thought?

This book will appeal to middle school students for multiple reasons including shorter length chapters and a larger font for easier readability. Additional themes of living within a strict budget, multigenerational households, incarceration of parents and fight or flight responses will resonate with students who have experienced similar situations and cultivate empathy for those who have a different life experience than the reader.