Starred Review Since his dad left the family and wound up in jail, Lawrence has had to trade his beloved Charlotte home for a small North Carolina town, move in with his exacting grandmother, and start a new middle school as one of the few Black kids in attendance, where frequent fights with bullies leave Lawrence freshly expelled. Granny insists he can't sit at home all day, but luckily an understanding neighbor taps Lawrence to help facilitate an after-school program at the nearby rec center. A burgeoning crush leads him to the competitive chess club there, though he quickly learns that there's far more to the game and its real-life applications than he could have imagined. Giles' rewarding story is incredibly clever and kind, and the nimble narration will draw in even reluctant readers. Relationships here follow realistic and gratifying progressions (the multigenerational house is a particular joy), and the forged bonds feel organic and true. Giles tackles a pile of tough topics ntinuing school segregation, absent parents, and the frequent unfairness of life t it never feels overstuffed or heavy. Chess proves a perfect lens through which to observe Lawrence's struggles and growth, and the appealing protagonist is sure to inspire readers to get their hands on a game board of their own. A wise and wonderful story.

After getting expelled from Andrew Jackson Middle School after getting in another fight with his bullies, 12-year-old Lawrence finds friendship, community, and healing in an unexpected space.Lawrence's family has had a "double dose of hard lately." Pop is in jail again, and Lawrence, his mother, and his little sister have left Charlotte to move in with their no-nonsense Granny in her small North Carolina town to make ends meet. Lawrence feels that everything going wrong is his fault. Granny has made it clear that he can't just sit around in front of the TV, so he ends up helping out at a local recreation center and spending time in an after-school program run by Mr. Dennis, Granny's neighbor. There, Lawrence finally meets other kids who are Black, just like him, including Twyla and Deuce, a boy who doesn't seem to want Lawrence around, though Mr. Dennis says they are very much alike. At the center, Lawrence is introduced to chess, "a game for thinkers," and it helps him develop tools for mastering his emotions and a framework for considering how he's been reacting to bullying and other events in his life. The characters are multidimensional and authentic: Complex issues, including poverty, parental incarceration, and racism, are explored with sensitivity, offering readers opportunities for reflection. Giles skillfully illustrates the nuances and cultural tensions that arise in multigenerational homes and masterfully captures the origins, cadences, and mannerisms common to many African American elders with compassion.Stellar. (author's note) (Fiction. 10-13)

Twelve-year-old Lawrence is in a losing season of his young life. Due to his father's incarceration, Lawrence, his mom, and his little sister relocate from their home in Charlotte to rural North Carolina to live with his strict, no-nonsense grandmother. Then he's expelled from his predominantly white school for fighting. Feeling bullied and betrayed, Lawrence starts volunteering at the Carver Recreation Center in order to keep busy and get out of the house. There he meets Deuce, a possible nemesis, and Twyla, a crush who gets him interested in learning chess. When the opportunity to return to Charlotte as part of a chess team comes up, it could be just the thing to turn around his current losing streak. Giles (Take Back the Block, rev. 7/21) gives readers another memorable character in Lawrence, a relatable middle schooler who feels misunderstood and alone but finds support in his community. Chess becomes a metaphor for life as he learns to navigate his current challenges. A sensitive yet joyful narrative about redemption, the story also nods to issues such as inequitable disciplinary practices in schools; the negative impact of incarceration on families; racism; and classism. The importance of caring adults and of working through conflict are highlighted in this well-written story about a boy who deserves a win. Monique Harris

After getting expelled from Andrew Jackson Middle School after getting in another fight with his bullies, 12-year-old Lawrence finds friendship, community, and healing in an unexpected space.Lawrence's family has had a "double dose of hard lately." Pop is in jail again, and Lawrence, his mother, and his little sister have left Charlotte to move in with their no-nonsense Granny in her small North Carolina town to make ends meet. Lawrence feels that everything going wrong is his fault. Granny has made it clear that he can't just sit around in front of the TV, so he ends up helping out at a local recreation center and spending time in an after-school program run by Mr. Dennis, Granny's neighbor. There, Lawrence finally meets other kids who are Black, just like him, including Twyla and Deuce, a boy who doesn't seem to want Lawrence around, though Mr. Dennis says they are very much alike. At the center, Lawrence is introduced to chess, "a game for thinkers," and it helps him develop tools for mastering his emotions and a framework for considering how he's been reacting to bullying and other events in his life. The characters are multidimensional and authentic: Complex issues, including poverty, parental incarceration, and racism, are explored with sensitivity, offering readers opportunities for reflection. Giles skillfully illustrates the nuances and cultural tensions that arise in multigenerational homes and masterfully captures the origins, cadences, and mannerisms common to many African American elders with compassion.Stellar. (author's note) (Fiction. 10-13)