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moonlightcupofcocoa 's review for:
Chess Club: The Winning Move
by Rebecca Donnelly
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advance copy! All opinions shared below are 100% my own.
"Chess Club: The Winning Move" b Rebecca Donnelly is an excellent read for children looking to find their place in the world. What starts as a way for Halima to find other chess players turns into a found family for all four main characters.
When I first picked up the book (I try to read all books before gifting or recommending them to my nieces and nephews), I assumed that Halima will be the protagonist. It's very difficult to find muslim representation in children literature where the focus is not on religious identity. That's something I especially appreciated about Halima's depiction here. While, yes, her faith is an important part of her identity, it's not all she thinks about. She is simply a middle grade girl who, alongside her best friend, is trying to start a chess club.
I was delighted to find out that while Halima is the driving factor of the book, there are also three other main characters:
- Jem, Halima's bestie and neighbour, who is bright, creative and a true friend through and through. She's also a great rep for neurodivergent and queer children.
- Daniel, a smart introverted boy, who long for a mystery and, along the way, discovers himself and makes new friends.
- Parker, a fun-loving creative boy, who wants to make a name for himself after living in his family's shadow most of his life and feeling like he's always doing what others expects him to do.
Each chapter presents the unfolding events from one of the four main characters' POVs. They all get a chance to shine and readers will find at least one of them relatable.
The story is pretty cute. It does actually have an interesting plot twist that is revealed in epilogue that I myself found very creative. Overall, it was a delightful quick read.
The reason I am giving this book 5-stars, however, is I really admire how the book introduces young readers to the history and rules of chess using illustrations and the story itself. You emerge from the book having learned not just the names of the pieces or their movements, but a lot of terminology from the chess world, some of the openings and even tournament rules and flow. It's done in an approachable and fun way and is fully integrated in the story that I think makes it effective at teaching the reader without throwing too much at them.
All in all, this was a delightful read and I'm planning on purchasing it for my family.
You can also find me on: Instagram
"Chess Club: The Winning Move" b Rebecca Donnelly is an excellent read for children looking to find their place in the world. What starts as a way for Halima to find other chess players turns into a found family for all four main characters.
When I first picked up the book (I try to read all books before gifting or recommending them to my nieces and nephews), I assumed that Halima will be the protagonist. It's very difficult to find muslim representation in children literature where the focus is not on religious identity. That's something I especially appreciated about Halima's depiction here. While, yes, her faith is an important part of her identity, it's not all she thinks about. She is simply a middle grade girl who, alongside her best friend, is trying to start a chess club.
I was delighted to find out that while Halima is the driving factor of the book, there are also three other main characters:
- Jem, Halima's bestie and neighbour, who is bright, creative and a true friend through and through. She's also a great rep for neurodivergent and queer children.
- Daniel, a smart introverted boy, who long for a mystery and, along the way, discovers himself and makes new friends.
- Parker, a fun-loving creative boy, who wants to make a name for himself after living in his family's shadow most of his life and feeling like he's always doing what others expects him to do.
Each chapter presents the unfolding events from one of the four main characters' POVs. They all get a chance to shine and readers will find at least one of them relatable.
The story is pretty cute. It does actually have an interesting plot twist that is revealed in epilogue that I myself found very creative. Overall, it was a delightful quick read.
The reason I am giving this book 5-stars, however, is I really admire how the book introduces young readers to the history and rules of chess using illustrations and the story itself. You emerge from the book having learned not just the names of the pieces or their movements, but a lot of terminology from the chess world, some of the openings and even tournament rules and flow. It's done in an approachable and fun way and is fully integrated in the story that I think makes it effective at teaching the reader without throwing too much at them.
All in all, this was a delightful read and I'm planning on purchasing it for my family.
You can also find me on: Instagram
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying