Not an Easy Win

By Chrystal D. Giles

A boy's chance at redemption lies in mastering chess against all odds.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 833 ratings

256 pages· 45,771 words· Est. 5 hour read

$17.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Twelve-year-old Lawrence's life is in turmoil after moving to Larenville and getting expelled from school. With his father gone, he feels unheard and lost. At the local rec center, he discovers a chess program that might offer a path back home. Despite knowing nothing about the game, Lawrence is drawn to the challenge and the community. As he learns, he wonders if this unexpected opportunity could be his chance to turn things around. Can Lawrence find his place on the board and in life, or will the odds remain stacked against him?

From the publisher

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?

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