Review Detail

My son and I would have devoured this had it been available when he went through a period of near-obsession with chess. This is lively and unusual YA for smart kids - and adults.

The chess play is plausible and exciting, but should be no bar to readers who aren't especially interested in the game. The real draw is the characters: they're a diverse bunch of very smart kids who transcend the usual urban stereotypes. The narrative voice is uniquely endearing: the protag is like a contemporary urban Holden Caulfield, a funny, vulnerable dreamer.

You care about these kids and root for them as they struggle and triumph. Touching, funny, exciting, and ultimately rewarding.