May the Best Player Win

June 10, 2024
After what she perceives as a disappointing performance in the California Middle School State Chess Championship finals, Chinese American seventh grader May Li is thrilled to learn that she won the award for “top female player.” She even gets a splashy feature in the esteemed Chessbase magazine, to the
chagrin of her teammate Ralph, who
bitterly remarks that “everyone knows that girls aren’t as good at chess as guys.” Hurt but refusing to let his comments get to her, May plays her gambit—she bets on herself to win the team’s internal tournament and subsequently be named captain before nationals. But as the
competition progresses, she finds that the pressure and high expectations take
a toll on her confidence and her friendships, leading her to question her love for chess. Zhao (The Fraud Squad, for adults) draws on personal experience,
as addressed in an endnote, to explore themes of sexism in a male-dominated field and anxiety brought about by
sudden fame and scrutiny. Digestible chess strategy breakdowns and terminology scattered throughout serve as an approachable introduction to the sport. Ages 8–12.

July 15, 2024
For a seventh grade chess champion, does success take away from her love for the game? May Li's middle school chess team performed well at the California state championship and has earned a berth at Nationals. May, who's Chinese American, even received a trophy for being the top female player! But her success sours her friendship with teammate Ralph Morris, her main competition for team captain. Ralph goes so far as to belittle her accomplishments because she's a girl. As Nationals approach, May feels pressured to perform, which erodes her confidence and causes strife with everyone around her. Zhao captures the anxiety of a tween who's juggling the expectations of adults, adoring new fans, and friends-turned-rivals. Fortunately, an unexpected friendship with popular soccer goalie Mario Cruz allows May to share her struggles with the pressure of success; their conversations also demonstrate surprising commonalities between soccer and chess. The chapter titles (for example, "Battery" and "Sacrifice") are drawn from chess terminology and briefly defined, teaching readers about the game while reflecting the story's progression. The supporting characters, both adults and peers, are well developed, and the chess games are thrilling. In her middle-grade debut, former competitive chess player Zhao explores gender bias as well as performance stress, and the book's valuable life lessons will speak to anyone who's lost their love for a pursuit. An emotionally intelligent work that explores socially relevant themes. (author's note)(Fiction. 8-12)

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