Chess Rumble

By G. Neri, Jesse Joshua Watson
Paperback: $12.95

A story in free verse about a troubled boy who learns to use his mind instead of his fists through the guidance of an unconventional mentor and the game of chess.

Description

Three moves
is all it takes
to change the outcome
of the game.

In Marcus’s world, battles are fought everyday-on the street, at home, and in school. Angered by his sister’s death and his father’s absence, and pushed to the brink by a bullying classmate, Marcus fights back with his fists.

One punch away from being kicked out of school and his home, Marcus encounters CM, an unlikely chess master who challenges him to fight his battles on the chess board. Guarded and distrusting, Marcus must endure more hard lessons before he can accept CM’s help to regain control of his life.

Inspired by inner-city school chess enrichment programs, Chess Rumble explores the ways this strategic game empowers young people with the skills they need to anticipate and calculate their moves through life.

About the Creators

G. Neri
G. Neri

G. Neri is an award-winning author, including a Michael L. Printz Award for his contribution to The Collectors anthology as well as an Eisner nomination and Coretta Scott King Honor for Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty. He has written many books for young people, including Ghetto Cowboy, which was made into the movie Concrete Cowboy, starring Idris Elba, debuting at #1 on Netflix. His books have been translated into multiple languages in more than 25 countries. In 2023, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from SUNY for his literary output. Mr. Neri lives on the Gulf coast of Florida. For more information, visit gneri.com.

Jesse Joshua Watson

Jesse Joshua Watson is a fine artist and illustrator whose work has appeared in galleries, on CD covers, and more recently in children's books. An avid traveler, Watson's artwork reflects the cultures and people he connects with along the way. Watson lives with his wife and their sons in Port Townsend, Washington. Chess battles with family members are a favorite pastime. His website is jessewatson.com.

Awards

  • ALSC Notable Children's Books

    American Library Association (ALA)

  • Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

    Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

  • Notable Books in the Language Arts

    National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

  • Best Children's Books of the Year

    Bank Street College of Education

  • Charlotte Awards Recommended

    New York State Reading Association

Reviews

  • "In this strong debut, Marcus' authentic voice narrates in potent, free-verse poetry. With minimal, direct words, Neri makes clear, without overstating, how Marcus' sense of being misunderstood amplifies his frustrations and how, through chess, he learns to take responsibility for his feelings and actions. . . Readers of all backgrounds will find themselves here."

    - Booklist
  • "Marcus tells his story in street slang, in a conversational first-person voice. . . The acrylic black-and-white illustrations are particularly effective at capturing natural expressions and the concrete-gray inner-cityscape."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • "Neri expertly captures Marcus's voice and delicately teases out his alternating vulnerability and rage. The cadence and emotion of the verse are masterfully echoed through Watson's expressive acrylic illustrations. . . This book will become a standby pick for reluctant readers, who will be pulled in before they know it by the story's quick pace and the authenticity of Marcus's voice and experience."

    - School Library Journal

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781620141892
  • Price $12.95
  • Publication Date Nov 01, 2007
  • Trim Size 9.25 × 6.5 in
  • Weight 0.4375 lbs
  • Page Count 64
  • Word Count 5671
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781584302797
  • Price $18.95
  • Publication Date Nov 01, 2007
  • Trim Size N/A
  • Weight 0.4375 lbs
  • Page Count 64
  • Word Count 5671
  • Interests

  • Imprint Lee & Low Books
  • Audience Middle Grade
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / Sports & Recreation / Games
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / African American & Black
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Social Themes / Bullying
  • Themes African / African American / Black, Bullying, Childhood Experiences and Memories, Conflict resolution, Coping with Death, Dreams & Aspirations, Education, Empathy / Compassion, Families, Fiction, Forgiveness, Friendship, Games / Toys, Gratitude, Identity / Self Esteem / Confidence, Integrity / Honesty, Leadership, Mentors, Middle Grade, Multiple Ethnicities Represented, Overcoming Obstacles, Persistence / Grit, Poetry, Pride, Realistic Fiction, Respect / Citizenship, Responsibility, Self Control / Self Regulation, Social & Emotional Learning, Sports, Teen Interest, YA interest
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 8 - 13
  • Grade Range Grades 3 - 8
  • Guided Reading V
  • ATOS Book Level 3.5
  • DRA 50
  • Interest Level Grades 3 - 8
  • Lexile Level 690
  • Lexile Measurement 690L
  • SRC 3.7
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections:

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