Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
What a wonderful book. Our family listened to the audiobook version and we all loved it. I would love to read more books by Kyla Zhao for this age level!
This was a delightful, quick read about a girl trying to manage keeping up her love for chess as her skill improves, amidst challenges with friends and gender bias. I thought the book was fresh and cute and had a great middle grade voice and could have been a three star review... buuuuut...
Zhao did a great job of expressing gender biases in a field like chess, as well as the sneaky ways misogyny shows up. What I like is that our girl called these out, which is so hard, but it used language that young readers can use to respectfully highlight how language and actions is harmful to both girls and boys.
Fun read, almost made me want to give chess another try.
(Almost).
Congrats to this debut, look forward to the next by Zhao.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC, for which I am giving my honest review and opinion of the novel.
Zhao did a great job of expressing gender biases in a field like chess, as well as the sneaky ways misogyny shows up. What I like is that our girl called these out, which is so hard, but it used language that young readers can use to respectfully highlight how language and actions is harmful to both girls and boys.
Fun read, almost made me want to give chess another try.
(Almost).
Congrats to this debut, look forward to the next by Zhao.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC, for which I am giving my honest review and opinion of the novel.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao [Penguin Teen Canada #gifted]
The middle grade version of The Queen's Gambit - really, it's a story about females in the game of chess, which is usually dominated by males. In May the Best Player Win, May Li loves the game of chess and when she wins an award for being the top female player, there is a series of additional spotlight on her. While she should be celebrating this, she finds herself now at odds with her own teammates who question her skills - because of her gender. May wants to prove herself - even as the pressure continues to build as she fights other's preconceptions and also her own ability to handle the attention and expectations now placed on her. May the Best Player Win is a great middle grade read that will inspire young readers to not be limited by the expectations and stereotypes of one's gender.
The middle grade version of The Queen's Gambit - really, it's a story about females in the game of chess, which is usually dominated by males. In May the Best Player Win, May Li loves the game of chess and when she wins an award for being the top female player, there is a series of additional spotlight on her. While she should be celebrating this, she finds herself now at odds with her own teammates who question her skills - because of her gender. May wants to prove herself - even as the pressure continues to build as she fights other's preconceptions and also her own ability to handle the attention and expectations now placed on her. May the Best Player Win is a great middle grade read that will inspire young readers to not be limited by the expectations and stereotypes of one's gender.
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.