Not gonna lie, had the soundtrack for the musical Chess popping up in my head through this whole book. However, if you're not a fan of ABBA, or musicals, don't let my mental musical accompaniment deter you from David Klass's Grandmaster.
Daniel Pratzer is a freshman at a school where the cool kids play chess (and are also athletic). When the All-Star Seniors invite him to a father-son tournament in New York, he's a bit confused, since he's not the best player. He finds out that thirty years ago, when his father was a teenager, he was one of the best players in America. However, the stresses and pressures of the game drove him to give it up completely. What else will Daniel discover about his father over a weekend full of new friends, old rivalries, and the oldest game of war?
First, how could you not love this cover? I kind of want it as a poster.
I...was actually on the chess team in high school. For about 10 days. I was horrible- I don't have a mind for strategy games (I killed it in Academic Decathlon, though!) I think I typically lost my King within 10 moves. It WAS cool to watch those who were serious about it, though- studying moves and all. Grandmaster was very interesting in that aspect- it took a game (sport?) that is generally viewed as boring, and gave it new life. When one remembers that it's based on war, it's an interesting perspective.
It is wonderfully written- there were times I felt like an observer in a totally new environment. Kind of like my first time at C2E2. I don't know how to describe it..."I am so out of my element, but this is so cool in a non-traditional kind of way, and I want to keep watching and being a part of it."
It was interesting to learn more about the darker side of Chess- the mental and emotional drain it can be on a person (and especially young Chess prodigies). There was definitely a sadness to some of the characters' stories.
On a happier note, though, I loved Daniel's family. Seeing his relationship with his father develop over the weekend was great, and I especially loved his rapport with his mother. There are friendships, rivalries, romantic interests, but at its core: father and son. It's definitely a story of relationships and overcoming things for your family.
I'd recommend this book to middle-grade and YA readers; the subject matter is gender-neutral, but I think would definitely catch guys (competitions and all). Also, anyone who is interested in chess and its history, and those who enjoy reading about child prodigies.
Grandmaster is published by Macmillan Children's. Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 02.25.2014
Ah...I needed this.
In This Together Media is an awesome publishing company that publishes books about real girls [insert Pinocchio joke here]. But seriously, when I was contacted to review the book, and started reading about this company- how could I not get behind it! Girls need to know they can be smart and strong, and also that they don't need to see each other as competition- we should build each other up. So! Follow the link! Learn more!
Personal Statement by Jason Odell Williams is a hilarious satire on the college admission "game." Emily, Rani and Robert are from upscale Connecticut, and all have motives to be the best. Not just the best grades, but also philanthropy. When a Class 3 hurricane makes its way to the New England coast, they jump on the opportunity to make themselves stand out! Told from the perspective of the three teens, and a 20-something observer who's already been through it all, Personal Statement takes a look at the dirty underbelly of college admissions...competitive volunteering.
This...this was everything I wanted the movie Admission to be. Coincidentally, I got the e-mail asking to review the book as I was setting up our overly-complicated physical media-playing system to watch Admission. I figured it was a sign. [Note: Admission was good! Just not what I expected humor-wise.]
The cast is refreshingly diverse! Smart and snarky, real, and not a WASP among them (says the WASP reviewing...). I was laughing from page one at the humor, but also at the truths revealed about college, admissions, debt, etc. I was nodding with a "So true!" every few pages. And, lots of pop culture references!
Also, jealous of these lucky New Englanders. Whenever I say I'm from Maine I have to follow up with "but the town was kind of King of the Hill-ish...but with Downeast accents. Not really what you see on postcards." These kids are postcard people.
This was an original, hilarious satire. Anyone who has been through the college admissions process, or is about to go through it, should probably read this. I kind of want it to be made into a movie, and then shown at school assemblies. I'm also going to take a look at the other books from In This Together Media...you probably should, too.
Personal Statement is published by In This Together Media. Review copy graciously provided by the publisher.
Released: 08.01.2013
What happens when Iron Chef, Master Chef & Top Chef meet Drop Dead Gorgeous?
You get Taste Test by Kelly Fiore!
Nora Henderson's a small-town girl from North Carolina, who's grown up in her Dad's barbecue restaurant. When the opportunity to compete for $50,000 and a culinary trip to Paris arises, she has to take it! She leaves her Dad and best friend Billy, hops a plane to Connecticut, and is thrust into the world of Reality TV cooking shows. Personalities clash, judges are acting shady, and there are many too random accidents on the set. Will Nora figure out what's going on, while still putting forth her best dishes?
I enjoyed Taste Test! As I said in one of my earlier posts, I'm kind of addicted to cooking competition shows (tonight, even, I caught up on all my Master Chef and Hell's Kitchen episode backlog). -And I just love experimenting in the kitchen.
The book starts with an explanation on regional dialects, and how barbecue has its own regional dialects (St. Louis, Kansas City, Texas, etc). My sister, like Nora, lives in North Carolina- and that barbecue is hands down the best I've ever had. There's a lot of food explanations included in the novel, so you're learning a lot while reading it, too.
To me, it kind of read like a manga (without, you know, the pictures). You have the jerky boy wonder, the feisty girl, the snotty princess, almost an entire book's worth of chemistry build up (like "Oh! OH! Here it comes! HERE IT-! Oh....crapdammit, c'mon!") There's a love triangle thrown in, too. With the love, drama and food aspects, it reminded me a lot of Kitchen Princess. Which made me like it even more.
Then! To add to its awesomeness- RECIPES AT THE END!!! So, there's that. All in all, it's a really fun, entertaining read.
I would recommend Taste Test to anyone who likes teen dramas, reality TV, cooking shows and mysteries.
Taste Test is published by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books. Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Release Date: 08.09.13
