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Check Mates
Some people think that I’m a problem child, that I’m lazy and never pay attention in lessons. But the thing is, I’m not a problem child at all. I’m just a child with a problem.
Felix is struggling at school. His ADHD makes it hard for him to concentrate and his grades are slipping. Everyone keeps telling him to try harder, but no one seems to understand just how hard he finds it. When Mum suggests Felix spends time with his grandfather, Felix can’t think of anything worse. Granddad hasn’t been the same since Grandma died. Plus he’s always trying to teach Felix boring chess. But sometimes the best lessons come in the most unexpected of places, and Granddad soon shows Felix that there’s everything to play for.
Felix is struggling at school. His ADHD makes it hard for him to concentrate and his grades are slipping. Everyone keeps telling him to try harder, but no one seems to understand just how hard he finds it. When Mum suggests Felix spends time with his grandfather, Felix can’t think of anything worse. Granddad hasn’t been the same since Grandma died. Plus he’s always trying to teach Felix boring chess. But sometimes the best lessons come in the most unexpected of places, and Granddad soon shows Felix that there’s everything to play for.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2019
37 people are currently reading
578 people want to read
About the author
Stewart Foster
14 books105 followersStewart Foster lives in Bath and wishes he'd never left school. So he went back to university far too many years later and he wrote a book, We used to be Kings, and then he wrote another, The Bubble Boy, that was loved by The Guardian and many others. It won Sainsbury's book of the year 2016 (10+) and The Trinity Schools Book Award 2017 and many other library awards
'All the things that could go Wrong" has also won many school and library awards, and continues to be shortlisted.
His next novel will be published in May 2019
Like his page on Facebook - Stewart Foster Author and follow him on twitter @stewfoster1.
'All the things that could go Wrong" has also won many school and library awards, and continues to be shortlisted.
His next novel will be published in May 2019
Like his page on Facebook - Stewart Foster Author and follow him on twitter @stewfoster1.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
May 15, 2019
I was very kindly gifted a copy of Check Mates by Stewart Foster and Simon & Schuster so thank you to them!
Trigger Warnings: Mentions of depression and symptoms (I don’t think it would be that triggering but I do want to put this here in case)
I feel like I say this to many of the reviews I write and that’s I was a little bit scared of going into this book. I think because Stewart Foster is one of my favourite authors so there’s always the fear I was somehow not going to like this book. It was also about chess and as much as I want to read anything by Stewart Foster, Chess, let’s say, isn’t an area of interest even though this was still a book I wanted to read. I knew very little about it, no more than what the goodreads synopsis/ blurb on the back tells us. From the synopsis, I was, however, very excited about seeing the ADHD representation.
And despite my fears of not liking this book, I did end up completely loving it.
I absolutely adored Felix as a character. You really felt for him as it seemed he was struggling so much at the start of the book. I don’t know much about ADHD and don’t personally struggle with that so I can’t tell you if it was completely on point or not, but it did feel real. I loved the way Stewart Foster captured what goes on inside Felix’s head when he was trying to concentrate. It was like not being able to concentrate yourself and I think that’s powerful to be able to do that.
But you get to see more of Felix than just his ADHD, for example, his imagination is an aspect of him we get to see and you really get a sense of what is going through his head and just how exciting his imagination is.
I’m not male and I’m older than Felix now so I personally couldn’t relate to him that much but he’s just one of those characters that I know so many younger boys, even girls, may relate to him. Felix isn’t obsessed with football, and he’s not exactly a popular kid, he’s almost a bit of a misfit but not ‘nerdy’ either. He’s not really anything special, he’s just a typical boy. I think so many kids will relate to him in one way or another, whether that be fully or maybe just one aspect of him, for example, his ADHD or his imagination.
There were just so many little things that Felix was doing that felt so realistic. Stewart Foster has this amazing ability to just capture that age so well. Like I said, I’m not male and I’m older now, but there were things that brought me back to when I was in year 7 or things I could see my brother doing at some point.
On the note of relatability, what I love about Stewart Foster’s books is there are so many references to things which children or teenagers even can relate to, I can’t remember too many specifics but I do remember there was Angry Birds and Fortnite which I know Fortnite is something kids are going to relate to a lot.
Felix has a couple of friends in this book which was nice to see. We have Jake, his best friend, and Rebecca, a girl who he’s been friends with for a while if I remember correctly. Felix’s relationship with Jake felt different to his relationship with Rebecca which I’m not saying is a bad thing. I quite enjoyed this aspect, actually. I think because it helped to show that Jake and Rebecca are both different characters completely yet they both got on with Felix really well.
I did have a few mixed feelings about Jake at times. I did find Jake could almost, not quite, be a bit of a bully to Felix and put him down at points. Other times he seemed more supportive or he’s do something to show his support, but by the end, around the last 100 pages, I did really enjoy his character. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy his character throughout, as I did think he could be rather funny at times, but there were also times I got a little bit irritated by him. The reason my rating still remains a solid 5 stars is because I do feel the way Jake was important and shows different kinds of relationships.
I wasn’t too sure what to make of Felix’s grandfather at the beginning, however I do feel he’s one of those characters that you learn to love. He was definitely a lot more complex that I expected him to be but not in a way that feels too confusing or not understandable for a middle grade audience.
One thing which I absolutely adored was the way Felix’s relationship with his grandfather develops. I think this has got to be one of my favorite aspects of the book. There’s something so heart-warming about this and it was also great to see a child’s relationship with a grandparent as this isn’t something I’ve read a lot about.
There were so many little aspects of this book which I don’t have enough to say about to get a paragraph each but things that open up how things might make Felix, or any character really, feel or an area for discussion. Like the wording used to suggest a child is a ‘problem child’ or how a teacher understanding can have a big impact on a child. Money was another thing that was openly discussed and again, children will either relate to this or it will educate them about how not everyone’s financial business is the same.
There’s a twist at the end I didn’t see coming. I was not expecting there to be a twist at all but there was and I loved it so much!
Despite this being about chess, there is a lot to be learnt and so many relationships are explored. It is also not boring in any way if you know nothing about chess either. I mean, some of it might make a bit more sense if you know about Chess, but I know nothing so I can’t comment too much there.
Overall, I do believe this will be a highly relatable book for many readers. Felix is a brilliant character that not only teaches the reader a lot but he learns a lot himself. And please, please, please don’t be put of by this book because it’s ‘about chess’. It’s so much more than just a game of chess and is something truly special.
Trigger Warnings: Mentions of depression and symptoms (I don’t think it would be that triggering but I do want to put this here in case)
I feel like I say this to many of the reviews I write and that’s I was a little bit scared of going into this book. I think because Stewart Foster is one of my favourite authors so there’s always the fear I was somehow not going to like this book. It was also about chess and as much as I want to read anything by Stewart Foster, Chess, let’s say, isn’t an area of interest even though this was still a book I wanted to read. I knew very little about it, no more than what the goodreads synopsis/ blurb on the back tells us. From the synopsis, I was, however, very excited about seeing the ADHD representation.
And despite my fears of not liking this book, I did end up completely loving it.
I absolutely adored Felix as a character. You really felt for him as it seemed he was struggling so much at the start of the book. I don’t know much about ADHD and don’t personally struggle with that so I can’t tell you if it was completely on point or not, but it did feel real. I loved the way Stewart Foster captured what goes on inside Felix’s head when he was trying to concentrate. It was like not being able to concentrate yourself and I think that’s powerful to be able to do that.
But you get to see more of Felix than just his ADHD, for example, his imagination is an aspect of him we get to see and you really get a sense of what is going through his head and just how exciting his imagination is.
I’m not male and I’m older than Felix now so I personally couldn’t relate to him that much but he’s just one of those characters that I know so many younger boys, even girls, may relate to him. Felix isn’t obsessed with football, and he’s not exactly a popular kid, he’s almost a bit of a misfit but not ‘nerdy’ either. He’s not really anything special, he’s just a typical boy. I think so many kids will relate to him in one way or another, whether that be fully or maybe just one aspect of him, for example, his ADHD or his imagination.
There were just so many little things that Felix was doing that felt so realistic. Stewart Foster has this amazing ability to just capture that age so well. Like I said, I’m not male and I’m older now, but there were things that brought me back to when I was in year 7 or things I could see my brother doing at some point.
On the note of relatability, what I love about Stewart Foster’s books is there are so many references to things which children or teenagers even can relate to, I can’t remember too many specifics but I do remember there was Angry Birds and Fortnite which I know Fortnite is something kids are going to relate to a lot.
Felix has a couple of friends in this book which was nice to see. We have Jake, his best friend, and Rebecca, a girl who he’s been friends with for a while if I remember correctly. Felix’s relationship with Jake felt different to his relationship with Rebecca which I’m not saying is a bad thing. I quite enjoyed this aspect, actually. I think because it helped to show that Jake and Rebecca are both different characters completely yet they both got on with Felix really well.
I did have a few mixed feelings about Jake at times. I did find Jake could almost, not quite, be a bit of a bully to Felix and put him down at points. Other times he seemed more supportive or he’s do something to show his support, but by the end, around the last 100 pages, I did really enjoy his character. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy his character throughout, as I did think he could be rather funny at times, but there were also times I got a little bit irritated by him. The reason my rating still remains a solid 5 stars is because I do feel the way Jake was important and shows different kinds of relationships.
I wasn’t too sure what to make of Felix’s grandfather at the beginning, however I do feel he’s one of those characters that you learn to love. He was definitely a lot more complex that I expected him to be but not in a way that feels too confusing or not understandable for a middle grade audience.
One thing which I absolutely adored was the way Felix’s relationship with his grandfather develops. I think this has got to be one of my favorite aspects of the book. There’s something so heart-warming about this and it was also great to see a child’s relationship with a grandparent as this isn’t something I’ve read a lot about.
There were so many little aspects of this book which I don’t have enough to say about to get a paragraph each but things that open up how things might make Felix, or any character really, feel or an area for discussion. Like the wording used to suggest a child is a ‘problem child’ or how a teacher understanding can have a big impact on a child. Money was another thing that was openly discussed and again, children will either relate to this or it will educate them about how not everyone’s financial business is the same.
There’s a twist at the end I didn’t see coming. I was not expecting there to be a twist at all but there was and I loved it so much!
Despite this being about chess, there is a lot to be learnt and so many relationships are explored. It is also not boring in any way if you know nothing about chess either. I mean, some of it might make a bit more sense if you know about Chess, but I know nothing so I can’t comment too much there.
Overall, I do believe this will be a highly relatable book for many readers. Felix is a brilliant character that not only teaches the reader a lot but he learns a lot himself. And please, please, please don’t be put of by this book because it’s ‘about chess’. It’s so much more than just a game of chess and is something truly special.
October 20, 2019
This is a story of 11-year-old Felix who is always in trouble at school because of his lack of attention. No one seems to know how to help him until Grandad has the bright idea to teach him chess. It is a good book looking into the relationship between a grandson and his grandfather. The dialogue is really engaging, and Grandad is the star with his dry wit. Throughout the book, there is a wealth of knowledge about chess - not just how to play, but the strategies and history of the game. I am not a fan or player of chess, but this book was still fun to read. There is also Granddad's backstory, how Cold War happened and the division of East and West Germany with the Berlin Wall. Overall, it was a lovely book with an engaging storyline that will appeal to children and adults.
October 30, 2023
Got this book for free and is aimed at kids but really enjoyed it and got quite invested in the storyline, especially at the end.
May 27, 2019
Strong writing, great characters. Loved it.
May 7, 2019
Check Mates weaves together the stories of 11-year-old Felix and his lonely grandad in a heartwarming read full of empathy, humour and an encouragement to look beyond the unusual behaviour of others in order to connect with the human stories that lie beneath.
Readers of Stewart Foster’s previous books (like The Bubble Boy and All the Things That Could Go Wrong) will have come to expect gritty real-life issues to be unpacked in a hugely compassionate and accessible way through the eyes of a likeable young narrator. This story is narrated by Felix, who struggles to concentrate at school and home because of his ADHD. The early chapters offer stirring insights into Felix’s thought processes and the sense of hopelessness that he feels at his own failure to stay out of trouble at school, ending up in an isolation room time and time again.
Mum organises for Felix to spend more time with his grandad, whose own eccentric behaviour has been increasingly concerning since Grandma died. Felix wonders whether he will ever connect with Grandad, who is often grumpy and likes to sit in the dark at home with the curtains closed. As they spend time together, Grandad teaches Felix how to play chess and the pair forms a bond that brings blessings to each of them in surprising ways.
Stewart Foster is skilled at bringing just the right amount of warmth and humour to his narratives in order to draw the reader to the heart of the issues explored without taking away their serious nature. Young readers will easily identify with Felix and his friend Jake, whose interests and mannerisms are typical of many young people their age. I liked the way in which digital technology was a very natural part of Felix’s lifestyle and was present throughout the story in a very relatable way. A less familiar historical element is also woven in too, with interesting threads about Cold War history that bring with them a number of pleasing plot twists and turns along the way.
Check Mates is a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read that will strike a chord with readers in the 9-12 age bracket.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending an advanced review copy of this book. We have selected this book as one of our Summer 2019 Ones to Watch on the Booksfortopics Blog.
Readers of Stewart Foster’s previous books (like The Bubble Boy and All the Things That Could Go Wrong) will have come to expect gritty real-life issues to be unpacked in a hugely compassionate and accessible way through the eyes of a likeable young narrator. This story is narrated by Felix, who struggles to concentrate at school and home because of his ADHD. The early chapters offer stirring insights into Felix’s thought processes and the sense of hopelessness that he feels at his own failure to stay out of trouble at school, ending up in an isolation room time and time again.
Mum organises for Felix to spend more time with his grandad, whose own eccentric behaviour has been increasingly concerning since Grandma died. Felix wonders whether he will ever connect with Grandad, who is often grumpy and likes to sit in the dark at home with the curtains closed. As they spend time together, Grandad teaches Felix how to play chess and the pair forms a bond that brings blessings to each of them in surprising ways.
Stewart Foster is skilled at bringing just the right amount of warmth and humour to his narratives in order to draw the reader to the heart of the issues explored without taking away their serious nature. Young readers will easily identify with Felix and his friend Jake, whose interests and mannerisms are typical of many young people their age. I liked the way in which digital technology was a very natural part of Felix’s lifestyle and was present throughout the story in a very relatable way. A less familiar historical element is also woven in too, with interesting threads about Cold War history that bring with them a number of pleasing plot twists and turns along the way.
Check Mates is a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read that will strike a chord with readers in the 9-12 age bracket.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending an advanced review copy of this book. We have selected this book as one of our Summer 2019 Ones to Watch on the Booksfortopics Blog.
January 24, 2024
Stewart Foster’s novel Check Mates is a warmhearted novel, it has a Queen Gambit feel to it being focused on chess and champions but this book has so many layers to it that chess is not the main focus. Our protagonist Felix is struggling in school, he is unable to focus due to his ADHD and regularly ends up in isolation. Readers with this condition will easily identify with this as his portrayal is realistic and well researched (Foster interviewed two children with ADHD and school support workers to gain a better understanding of how schools try to help but can hinder these children. Foster also lives with ADHD himself so he is a great author to include this in his work.)
Felix is a lonely character, his parents work a lot and are struggling with money, his beloved grandmother has recently passed away, his friends aren’t as understanding or supportive as they should be and now he has to spend his evenings with his grandad who he feels distant to.
As there relationship progresses, his grandad wants to teach him to play chess as he believes it will help his concentration. Although at first he refuses, when he starts to play he realises how similar the game is to the imaginary war games he plays. And as he practices, his friendships and his relationships with his parents improve - along with his school work!
As the novel progresses, we learn about his Grandad’s history, living through the Cold War and the division of the East and West Germany. This provides such an unexpected twist, I was literally engrossed and didn’t have a clue what the resolution would be! I won’t share this secondary plot as it really has to be read to be enjoyed, but the mystery of the box hidden in the wardrobe, the damning news article, and Grandad’s past really makes this book something special.
Felix is a lonely character, his parents work a lot and are struggling with money, his beloved grandmother has recently passed away, his friends aren’t as understanding or supportive as they should be and now he has to spend his evenings with his grandad who he feels distant to.
As there relationship progresses, his grandad wants to teach him to play chess as he believes it will help his concentration. Although at first he refuses, when he starts to play he realises how similar the game is to the imaginary war games he plays. And as he practices, his friendships and his relationships with his parents improve - along with his school work!
As the novel progresses, we learn about his Grandad’s history, living through the Cold War and the division of the East and West Germany. This provides such an unexpected twist, I was literally engrossed and didn’t have a clue what the resolution would be! I won’t share this secondary plot as it really has to be read to be enjoyed, but the mystery of the box hidden in the wardrobe, the damning news article, and Grandad’s past really makes this book something special.
March 21, 2019
Meet Felix, an ADHD sufferer and normal teen just lively and unable to concentrate on tasks set to him very well for getting distracted.
His friend Jake likes to mess around too but Rebecca his more sensible friend concentrates and works hard and even likes chess, a big part of his granddad's life.
After losing his grandma, his grandad is lonely and shuts the world out while keeping all is wife's possessions close in their place like she's coming back home.
Yet his distraction is Felix and finding ways to get him to learn about things like his German history and how to do house tasks and play chess too!
Yet, Felix decides to do a list back to his granddad to get him to do something Felix enjoys. Only as his grandad sneaks in more chess tactics into tasks, Felix kind of becomes infected by a chess playing bug and joins the school team becoming a great new player even making his grandad proud.
This was such an amazing book, we have so much covered from death and grief to health problems, finding your perfect hobby, fitting it and feeling let down by family not to forget harbouring huge life changing secrets! It was a fun book looking into the relationship between a grandson and his grandfather and unlike what I've read before in young adult fiction. I may not like chess personally but this book was still fun despite the involvement so don't judge it before you've read it!
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
His friend Jake likes to mess around too but Rebecca his more sensible friend concentrates and works hard and even likes chess, a big part of his granddad's life.
After losing his grandma, his grandad is lonely and shuts the world out while keeping all is wife's possessions close in their place like she's coming back home.
Yet his distraction is Felix and finding ways to get him to learn about things like his German history and how to do house tasks and play chess too!
Yet, Felix decides to do a list back to his granddad to get him to do something Felix enjoys. Only as his grandad sneaks in more chess tactics into tasks, Felix kind of becomes infected by a chess playing bug and joins the school team becoming a great new player even making his grandad proud.
This was such an amazing book, we have so much covered from death and grief to health problems, finding your perfect hobby, fitting it and feeling let down by family not to forget harbouring huge life changing secrets! It was a fun book looking into the relationship between a grandson and his grandfather and unlike what I've read before in young adult fiction. I may not like chess personally but this book was still fun despite the involvement so don't judge it before you've read it!
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
December 8, 2020
This book was so cute and I adored it so much I really enjoyed the only character I couldn’t stand a lot was Jake I thought he was mean a lot to Felix and I loved Felix for an 11 year old with ADHD I think it was an important representation Froster did I love how honest and true he writes and never disappoints me with his realistic characters and emotions he puts in his books I can’t wait to continue reading more from him he became my favourite middle grade author!
May 4, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I had very much enjoyed Stewart Foster's books 'All the things that could go wrong' and especially 'The Bubble Boy', so I was looking forward to this - it did not disappoint.
Felix is always in trouble. He can't sit still, he's always being rude and silly, and there doesn't seem to be anything he can do about it - until his parents insist that he start spending more time with his granddad, who's become increasingly withdrawn after the death of Felix's grandma. Felix's Granddad is a wily one, and his selection of tasks for Felix are revealed to have one thing in common - chess. Felix has an exceptional aptitude for the game, and by the end of the book is winning matches against far more experienced players - and he's also learned to calm down and focus. Interwoven with Felix's story is Granddad's story of his life in Eastern Germany after WWII, and the role that chess played in his escape.
Although this doesn't have the sci-fi element of Ross Wellford's books, I think it would very much appeal to readers of his books and Lisa Thompson's books, as well as those who enjoyed Kim Slater's 'A seven letter word' and Susin Nielsen's 'Word Nerd'
Felix is always in trouble. He can't sit still, he's always being rude and silly, and there doesn't seem to be anything he can do about it - until his parents insist that he start spending more time with his granddad, who's become increasingly withdrawn after the death of Felix's grandma. Felix's Granddad is a wily one, and his selection of tasks for Felix are revealed to have one thing in common - chess. Felix has an exceptional aptitude for the game, and by the end of the book is winning matches against far more experienced players - and he's also learned to calm down and focus. Interwoven with Felix's story is Granddad's story of his life in Eastern Germany after WWII, and the role that chess played in his escape.
Although this doesn't have the sci-fi element of Ross Wellford's books, I think it would very much appeal to readers of his books and Lisa Thompson's books, as well as those who enjoyed Kim Slater's 'A seven letter word' and Susin Nielsen's 'Word Nerd'
November 18, 2019
i knew that i was gonna give this book five starts when i was half way through. i actually started playing chess again two weeks ago after putting it down for a long time. coming into this book, i didnt know anything about it and i was greatly surprised when the main characters started talking about and playing chess. i felt so happy actually :D. this book doubles my motivation to study more about chess.
August 14, 2021
This is a story of 11-year-old Felix who is always in trouble at school because of his lack of attention and ADHD. No one seems to know how to help him until Grandad has the bright idea to teach him chess. It is a good book looking into the relationship between a grandson and his grandfather. The dialogue is really engaging and Grandad soon shows Felix that he can succeed if he wants to.
January 20, 2020
I think this book is really good but I feel sorry for Felix at the beginning of the book because he is treated unfairly with his ADHD. Towards the end Felix is liking time with his grandad and he teaches him some really good tips.
January 9, 2022
this was such a cute book! it’s a bit younger than i’d usually want to read but i found that i really enjoyed it and became emotionally invested
March 4, 2021
Check Mates is a wonderful book, and me being a fan of chess it had me hooked in the first couple chapters. The main character, Felix Schopp is a boy with ADHD and he can never concentrate on schoolwork. That was until he started playing chess with his grandfather, who had a chilling and mysterious past.
January 6, 2020
Thank you so much to Steph (@bookslovereaders) for sending me this book off of my amazon wishlist for Christmas.
Trigger warnings: Depression, grief, dealing with loss of a grandparent and brief bullying.
I have to first start by saying I’m not even sure what made me add this book to my amazon wishlist, I’m trying to convince myself it was the gorgeous cover, but deep down I really think it was more because the premise sounded so amazing and like a heartwarming read.
The second thing I have to say is this: don’t let the fact that this book focuses on chess put you off. I don’t play chess, I don’t want to play chess and I certainly don’t understand chess. But that did not stop me from completely adoring this book. Yes there is chess talk, but it was explained in a way that was understandable as our main character, Felix, is also new to the game.
Felix is a character that I absolutely adored. I completely felt for him and it was hard to see him struggling so much at the start of the book because he has ADHD and as a result he is often disruptive in the classroom and gets sent home early a lot. I really liked how Steward was able to portray what was going on inside Felix’s head in a way that relatable. I don’t have ADHD, but when we were little my brother was diagnosed as having it and seeing how he was compared to how Felix was pretty much the same.
As the story progresses we see more of Felix than just his ADHD. We see how kind and caring he is to those he loves and we eventually see him learn the confidence he needs to accomplish everything his grandfather has taught him throughout the entirety of the book.
Another thing I really loved about this book was the relationship between Felix and his grandfather and how it grew into this beautiful thing. At the start of the book I wasn’t sure of how this was going to happen but I soon became invested in their story. It was so heartwarming to read and it reminded me a lot of my grandfather, who is no longer here, we used to go out everytime a new Harry Potter book was released and buy it and read it. It’s such a precious relationship between grandparents and grandchildren and I’m pretty sure that was what had sold me on this book.
I wasn’t too sure on Jake as a character from the very start and I actually still am not sure about him after having closed the book. I know he is Felix’s best friend but at times it felt like he was bullying Felix into doing what he wanted to do and wouldn’t let Felix do what he wanted. He also pressured Felix into a couple of things, I won’t say what, but one of them really broke my heart because it fractured Felix and his grandfathers relationship for a while. I’m glad Felix had a friend like Rebecca who really supported him from the very beginning, not like Jake who only supported Felix when he became ‘famous’.
Overall this was a truly heartwarming story about trust, spending time with those that are important to you and having the confidence to learn something new.
Trigger warnings: Depression, grief, dealing with loss of a grandparent and brief bullying.
I have to first start by saying I’m not even sure what made me add this book to my amazon wishlist, I’m trying to convince myself it was the gorgeous cover, but deep down I really think it was more because the premise sounded so amazing and like a heartwarming read.
The second thing I have to say is this: don’t let the fact that this book focuses on chess put you off. I don’t play chess, I don’t want to play chess and I certainly don’t understand chess. But that did not stop me from completely adoring this book. Yes there is chess talk, but it was explained in a way that was understandable as our main character, Felix, is also new to the game.
Felix is a character that I absolutely adored. I completely felt for him and it was hard to see him struggling so much at the start of the book because he has ADHD and as a result he is often disruptive in the classroom and gets sent home early a lot. I really liked how Steward was able to portray what was going on inside Felix’s head in a way that relatable. I don’t have ADHD, but when we were little my brother was diagnosed as having it and seeing how he was compared to how Felix was pretty much the same.
As the story progresses we see more of Felix than just his ADHD. We see how kind and caring he is to those he loves and we eventually see him learn the confidence he needs to accomplish everything his grandfather has taught him throughout the entirety of the book.
Another thing I really loved about this book was the relationship between Felix and his grandfather and how it grew into this beautiful thing. At the start of the book I wasn’t sure of how this was going to happen but I soon became invested in their story. It was so heartwarming to read and it reminded me a lot of my grandfather, who is no longer here, we used to go out everytime a new Harry Potter book was released and buy it and read it. It’s such a precious relationship between grandparents and grandchildren and I’m pretty sure that was what had sold me on this book.
I wasn’t too sure on Jake as a character from the very start and I actually still am not sure about him after having closed the book. I know he is Felix’s best friend but at times it felt like he was bullying Felix into doing what he wanted to do and wouldn’t let Felix do what he wanted. He also pressured Felix into a couple of things, I won’t say what, but one of them really broke my heart because it fractured Felix and his grandfathers relationship for a while. I’m glad Felix had a friend like Rebecca who really supported him from the very beginning, not like Jake who only supported Felix when he became ‘famous’.
Overall this was a truly heartwarming story about trust, spending time with those that are important to you and having the confidence to learn something new.
March 16, 2019
Felix has ADHD and struggles to keep out of trouble in school.His parents have money and work worries consuming their time and his granddad is a quiet,solitary and sad figure, struggling with the loss of his wife.
When Felix,reluctantly, spends a few days with Granddad , his Granddad hatches a plan to teach Felix all about one of his oldest passions-Chess. Felix hates the idea and it seems a recipe for further failure,after all, Felix can barely sit still let alone show focus and concentration!
However, an obsession with the game begins to unfold against the odds and Felix discovers chess is the key to truly getting to know his Granddad and to helping them both deal with the loss of their beloved Grandma and wife.As the chess lessons continue (in the most inventive ways!), Felix discovers not only a whole new set of strengths and talents within himself but also a whole ,unknown and astonishing history to his Granddad's own chess skills.
The relationship between grandson and grandfather is beautiful.It's touching, moving, humorous and heartfelt. The reader watches as Felix grows in self belief and makes drastic changes to his school days. Meanwhile, Granddad starts stepping tentatively out from his self imposed exile behind his closed living room curtains.
Set within this awakening trust and growing relationship between these characters is the mystery,drama and intrigue of Granddad's past in the Germany of his childhood during the Cold War where he first learned the chess skills he now hands down to Felix. This part of the story had me riveted and holding my breath at times , in dread the story was going to take a turn that would make me have to look again at my feelings for the characters.
Check Mates is a story of so many layers - like being given the gift of several stories in one! For me,it's my favourite Stewart Foster book so far.
When Felix,reluctantly, spends a few days with Granddad , his Granddad hatches a plan to teach Felix all about one of his oldest passions-Chess. Felix hates the idea and it seems a recipe for further failure,after all, Felix can barely sit still let alone show focus and concentration!
However, an obsession with the game begins to unfold against the odds and Felix discovers chess is the key to truly getting to know his Granddad and to helping them both deal with the loss of their beloved Grandma and wife.As the chess lessons continue (in the most inventive ways!), Felix discovers not only a whole new set of strengths and talents within himself but also a whole ,unknown and astonishing history to his Granddad's own chess skills.
The relationship between grandson and grandfather is beautiful.It's touching, moving, humorous and heartfelt. The reader watches as Felix grows in self belief and makes drastic changes to his school days. Meanwhile, Granddad starts stepping tentatively out from his self imposed exile behind his closed living room curtains.
Set within this awakening trust and growing relationship between these characters is the mystery,drama and intrigue of Granddad's past in the Germany of his childhood during the Cold War where he first learned the chess skills he now hands down to Felix. This part of the story had me riveted and holding my breath at times , in dread the story was going to take a turn that would make me have to look again at my feelings for the characters.
Check Mates is a story of so many layers - like being given the gift of several stories in one! For me,it's my favourite Stewart Foster book so far.
March 10, 2019
Check Mates brings the stories of 11-year-old Felix and his granddad together in a superb combination of history, mystery, humour and heart.
Felix has ADHD and finds it hard to concentrate at school or stay out of trouble. Granddad comes up with a carefully thought out plan to help Felix, by teaching him chess. At first, Felix isn’t too keen about doing Granddad’s strange list of chores, but the tasks they undertake together become about so much more than just learning how to play chess. As the story unfolds, Felix is inspired to believe in himself and Granddad realises that in order to live in the moment, he’s got to come to terms with his past. Spending time with Felix is the key to helping him do that and the connection that emerges between granddad and grandson is what I think makes this story really special – from the empathy Felix develops for Granddad’s loss and loneliness, to the heart-warming moments they share.
Throughout the book, there are some cleverly woven threads to look out for: a wealth of knowledge about chess - not just how to play, but the logic, conventions and history of the game; Granddad’s intriguing backstory in the Cold War and the division of East and West Germany with the Berlin Wall; the value of relationships that cross generations; and the importance of friendship, having belief in each other and yourself.
Stewart Foster has again succeeded in creating characters who jump off the page and into your life. Everyone needs a granddad Francke to help them realise how brilliant being good at something feels. We all need friends like Jake and Rebecca by our side too; Jake with his fierce loyalty and Rebecca to keep us in check. I was rooting for Felix to succeed in the tense moments and wishing I was there with Jake to cheer him on.
There really is so much to love about this story. It's packed with humour and emotion and I turned the last page with a really warm glow inside. I thought it would be hard to beat The Bubble Boy and All The Things That Could Go Wrong, but Check Mates definitely shines the brightest light and totally wins it for me!
I think Check Mates will appeal to children in Yr5 upwards and adults will love it too.
Felix has ADHD and finds it hard to concentrate at school or stay out of trouble. Granddad comes up with a carefully thought out plan to help Felix, by teaching him chess. At first, Felix isn’t too keen about doing Granddad’s strange list of chores, but the tasks they undertake together become about so much more than just learning how to play chess. As the story unfolds, Felix is inspired to believe in himself and Granddad realises that in order to live in the moment, he’s got to come to terms with his past. Spending time with Felix is the key to helping him do that and the connection that emerges between granddad and grandson is what I think makes this story really special – from the empathy Felix develops for Granddad’s loss and loneliness, to the heart-warming moments they share.
Throughout the book, there are some cleverly woven threads to look out for: a wealth of knowledge about chess - not just how to play, but the logic, conventions and history of the game; Granddad’s intriguing backstory in the Cold War and the division of East and West Germany with the Berlin Wall; the value of relationships that cross generations; and the importance of friendship, having belief in each other and yourself.
Stewart Foster has again succeeded in creating characters who jump off the page and into your life. Everyone needs a granddad Francke to help them realise how brilliant being good at something feels. We all need friends like Jake and Rebecca by our side too; Jake with his fierce loyalty and Rebecca to keep us in check. I was rooting for Felix to succeed in the tense moments and wishing I was there with Jake to cheer him on.
There really is so much to love about this story. It's packed with humour and emotion and I turned the last page with a really warm glow inside. I thought it would be hard to beat The Bubble Boy and All The Things That Could Go Wrong, but Check Mates definitely shines the brightest light and totally wins it for me!
I think Check Mates will appeal to children in Yr5 upwards and adults will love it too.
June 27, 2019
Felix does his best, but he just can't concentrate in school. No one seems to understand how hard it is. No one but his quiet, closed off grandfather. Granddad's been a bit depressed since Grandma died. Until he comes up with a wonderful plan to help Felix concentrate. He's going to teach him chess!
This is a sweet, nice story about a grandson and grandfather learning to connect with each other. I know a little about the chess, just the basics, and was able to follow perfectly well, so don't be put off if you don't know anything about the game. I also learned some information about the Cold War that I hadn't known before, and that was really interesting to me.
One thing I did think was odd: Felix clearly has ADHD, but he doesn't seem to be getting any help. There's mention that he refused a classroom assistant because he was embarrassed, and he's in an extra reading class, but that's it. No other accommodations for him. This is a minor thing, however.
This is a lovely story that will also lead to discussion topics, and that's a great mix.
"Phew," says Jake. "You had me worried."
"I know," I say, trying to shake the fog out of my head. "They're all dweebs! I don't know what I was thinking."
"You were thinking it was a good idea."
"No, Granddad. I wasn't."
Jake gives me a strange look.
"What?" I say. "I'm not going in there."
"No," says Jake. "It's what you just did. You were talking to your granddad."
"Did I? Was I?"
"Yeah. It's like he's getting inside your head, brainwashing you. Maybe he's a spy. My dad always says he's a bit strange."
"My granddad's not strange," I snap. "And he's not a spy. What does your dad know? He's never even spoken to him."
"Sorry, didn't mean to upset you." Jake puts his arm around my shoulder. "He's not strange. Not really - now let's get some dinner and then we'll go and shoot some hoops."
"Hoops? What is hoops?"
Granddad, I say in my head. You're going to have to stop this.
This is a sweet, nice story about a grandson and grandfather learning to connect with each other. I know a little about the chess, just the basics, and was able to follow perfectly well, so don't be put off if you don't know anything about the game. I also learned some information about the Cold War that I hadn't known before, and that was really interesting to me.
One thing I did think was odd: Felix clearly has ADHD, but he doesn't seem to be getting any help. There's mention that he refused a classroom assistant because he was embarrassed, and he's in an extra reading class, but that's it. No other accommodations for him. This is a minor thing, however.
This is a lovely story that will also lead to discussion topics, and that's a great mix.
"Phew," says Jake. "You had me worried."
"I know," I say, trying to shake the fog out of my head. "They're all dweebs! I don't know what I was thinking."
"You were thinking it was a good idea."
"No, Granddad. I wasn't."
Jake gives me a strange look.
"What?" I say. "I'm not going in there."
"No," says Jake. "It's what you just did. You were talking to your granddad."
"Did I? Was I?"
"Yeah. It's like he's getting inside your head, brainwashing you. Maybe he's a spy. My dad always says he's a bit strange."
"My granddad's not strange," I snap. "And he's not a spy. What does your dad know? He's never even spoken to him."
"Sorry, didn't mean to upset you." Jake puts his arm around my shoulder. "He's not strange. Not really - now let's get some dinner and then we'll go and shoot some hoops."
"Hoops? What is hoops?"
Granddad, I say in my head. You're going to have to stop this.
February 20, 2023
✨ Book Review ✨
Check Mates - Stewart Foster.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Oh my goodness. I adore the characters in this book and the story is just magnificent.
Felix struggles at school. With ADHD, his concentration is minimal and his grades are falling. He is constantly told to try harder but he is trying the hardest he can! When he then has to spend time with his grandad, his life could get any worse. However, with one chess piece after another, Felix begins to learn some vital lessons and the relationship he forms might just help him in ways he didn’t know it could.
I absolutely adored Felix and his grandfather. What gorgeous characters Stewart Foster has created! The representation of ADHD was brilliant and Foster depicted the struggles Felix faces wonderfully. The way he wrote made me feel like I too was losing concentration and I became frustrated when Felix was told off - because it’s hard to concentrate when so much is going on! The writing was so powerful and I can see so many children, who live with ADHD, relating to this!
His grandfather however was the star of the show. If I can be half the man he is with my own grandchildren I will be happy. The patience, determination and love within this man was truly wonderful to read about. Finding more about his backstory and the Cold War was highly intriguing and made his character all the more powerful.
The relationship they created was heartwarming. I felt so good after reading this book and that’s exactly what you want! It made me miss my grandad so much - I’d give anything to go scuba diving or zip lining with him (although I doubt he would have ever wanted to haha!). I can see this book resonating with people of all ages: children and adults. I can’t wait to share this with the children in my class!
Check Mates - Stewart Foster.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Oh my goodness. I adore the characters in this book and the story is just magnificent.
Felix struggles at school. With ADHD, his concentration is minimal and his grades are falling. He is constantly told to try harder but he is trying the hardest he can! When he then has to spend time with his grandad, his life could get any worse. However, with one chess piece after another, Felix begins to learn some vital lessons and the relationship he forms might just help him in ways he didn’t know it could.
I absolutely adored Felix and his grandfather. What gorgeous characters Stewart Foster has created! The representation of ADHD was brilliant and Foster depicted the struggles Felix faces wonderfully. The way he wrote made me feel like I too was losing concentration and I became frustrated when Felix was told off - because it’s hard to concentrate when so much is going on! The writing was so powerful and I can see so many children, who live with ADHD, relating to this!
His grandfather however was the star of the show. If I can be half the man he is with my own grandchildren I will be happy. The patience, determination and love within this man was truly wonderful to read about. Finding more about his backstory and the Cold War was highly intriguing and made his character all the more powerful.
The relationship they created was heartwarming. I felt so good after reading this book and that’s exactly what you want! It made me miss my grandad so much - I’d give anything to go scuba diving or zip lining with him (although I doubt he would have ever wanted to haha!). I can see this book resonating with people of all ages: children and adults. I can’t wait to share this with the children in my class!
April 28, 2020
This book follows Felix as he starts to hang out with his eccentric Granddad. During this time his Granddad starts teaching him chess in hopes it will help him concentrate more as Felix has ADHD and is constantly in trouble at school. Whilst learning chess, Felix gets to know more about his Granddad's history and enters chess competitions.
What I loved about this book was how ADHD is explained and explored. Felix thinks he is broken in the beginning but then learns that he can concentrate when he finds something he is passionate about. The best thing about this book is how Felix and his Granddad's relationship evolves as the book goes on, they go from strangers to friends and its lovely to read. I like how Felix brings his Granddad out of his shell and his Granddad teaches him he is more than just a label. It explores the Berlin wall and explains its history through the Granddad's backstory. This is a historic time that isn't widely taught in the UK curriculum (yr 7/8) so it's wonderful to have it in the spotlight in this book as it makes you curious to learn more. Even though the book is about chess it never alienates you and it never tries to explain too much about the game. Its got so much heart and is relatable.
Things I didn't like, the story was a tad long. But that is a very small qualm!
I read this in a day as I loved it! The duality of the story made it rich - The premise was Granddad teaches grandson about chess but the reality was this story was about Felix learning about himself and the Granddad opening himself up. Was brilliant!
What I loved about this book was how ADHD is explained and explored. Felix thinks he is broken in the beginning but then learns that he can concentrate when he finds something he is passionate about. The best thing about this book is how Felix and his Granddad's relationship evolves as the book goes on, they go from strangers to friends and its lovely to read. I like how Felix brings his Granddad out of his shell and his Granddad teaches him he is more than just a label. It explores the Berlin wall and explains its history through the Granddad's backstory. This is a historic time that isn't widely taught in the UK curriculum (yr 7/8) so it's wonderful to have it in the spotlight in this book as it makes you curious to learn more. Even though the book is about chess it never alienates you and it never tries to explain too much about the game. Its got so much heart and is relatable.
Things I didn't like, the story was a tad long. But that is a very small qualm!
I read this in a day as I loved it! The duality of the story made it rich - The premise was Granddad teaches grandson about chess but the reality was this story was about Felix learning about himself and the Granddad opening himself up. Was brilliant!
June 10, 2025
This is a good story, but it seems stretched out well beyond its telling: pages of dialogue with characters repeating each other's words, lots of anxious thoughts churned through each time any new event comes up, supposedly funny interruptions from the idiot friend, and many stretches of 'will I, won't I' tell/ask/say something to somebody.
There are hints early in the book that the main character, Felix, has ADHD, but this seems to get left behind as the book progresses. Certainly if he has it no character thinks to investigate, including his parents. We eventually discover he has a particular gift for playing chess, but this is a different kettle of fish, and mostly it takes a build-up of his confidence for him to realise what he has.
His relationship with his grandparents is nicely drawn - this is one of the best aspects of the story - and his friendship with Jake (the 'idiot friend') is certainly real enough in its own way, though it has some aspects of co-dependency that undermine any warmth in it.
Perhaps Jake reminds me too much of a friend one of my son's had. This son was highly capable at programming from an early age, and spent a great deal of time at the computer. But a 'friend,' a rugby player pooh-poohed his computer skills, and nearly set him on a wrong course entirely. After a while every time Jake opened his mouth I cringed: his view of Felix's life was just so wrong-headed.
Increasingly I felt the book could have done with some editing: the author seemed to be making heavy weather of his own worthwhile story.
There are hints early in the book that the main character, Felix, has ADHD, but this seems to get left behind as the book progresses. Certainly if he has it no character thinks to investigate, including his parents. We eventually discover he has a particular gift for playing chess, but this is a different kettle of fish, and mostly it takes a build-up of his confidence for him to realise what he has.
His relationship with his grandparents is nicely drawn - this is one of the best aspects of the story - and his friendship with Jake (the 'idiot friend') is certainly real enough in its own way, though it has some aspects of co-dependency that undermine any warmth in it.
Perhaps Jake reminds me too much of a friend one of my son's had. This son was highly capable at programming from an early age, and spent a great deal of time at the computer. But a 'friend,' a rugby player pooh-poohed his computer skills, and nearly set him on a wrong course entirely. After a while every time Jake opened his mouth I cringed: his view of Felix's life was just so wrong-headed.
Increasingly I felt the book could have done with some editing: the author seemed to be making heavy weather of his own worthwhile story.
July 30, 2019
Sign of a good book...I read this one in one sitting!
Felix struggles to concentrate in school. He gets distracted by the thoughts in his head and is often in trouble for it. His German grandfather lives across the road and has lived a dark and lonely life since his wife died a year before. He decides there are 10 things he would like to teach Felix...while Felix thinks these lessons will be impossible to concentrate on. And one of the lessons is chess....how could that be of any interest to him! Will grandad manage to teach him his favourite game? And will he manage to stay out of trouble at school?
This story was really well written. I was rooting for Felix to manage to concentrate in his lessons with grandad, and was eager to learn more about the older man as he’s a very secretive kind of character. It deals with lots of issues, addressing ADHD and how that can affect young people, and also grief and the depression that can come with that. Without giving too much away, there is also an element of German history which really interested me as it was something I didn’t know a lot about.
I’d recommend this for upper key stage 2 or lower key stage 3 readers,p.
Felix struggles to concentrate in school. He gets distracted by the thoughts in his head and is often in trouble for it. His German grandfather lives across the road and has lived a dark and lonely life since his wife died a year before. He decides there are 10 things he would like to teach Felix...while Felix thinks these lessons will be impossible to concentrate on. And one of the lessons is chess....how could that be of any interest to him! Will grandad manage to teach him his favourite game? And will he manage to stay out of trouble at school?
This story was really well written. I was rooting for Felix to manage to concentrate in his lessons with grandad, and was eager to learn more about the older man as he’s a very secretive kind of character. It deals with lots of issues, addressing ADHD and how that can affect young people, and also grief and the depression that can come with that. Without giving too much away, there is also an element of German history which really interested me as it was something I didn’t know a lot about.
I’d recommend this for upper key stage 2 or lower key stage 3 readers,p.
August 9, 2021
The story follows Felix, an 11-year-old boy who is struggling at school due to his ADHD and the fact that no one seems to understand his struggles or be able to help him. It has themes of loss, as Felix is told by his mum to spend more time with his Granddad who hasn’t been the same since his Grandma died.
I like this book and believe it is a good read for students to learn about / unpack real-life issues in a totally accessible way. Check Mates is best suited to 7 – 10 year olds, but I believe students up to the age of 12 will enjoy this book and its themes, and possibly even relate to its narrator (who is around the same age as them). As well as being funny at times and discussing a potentially new game to some students – chess – it portrays the struggles people with ADHD must face in life and allows children to understand and learn about this in a really digestible way. Also, I liked the way Foster has written and portrayed the internal monologue of Felix as it really shows how his ADHD means he struggles with concentrating.
I loved the characters, the language with which the book was written and the plot progression – with an interesting twist!
I like this book and believe it is a good read for students to learn about / unpack real-life issues in a totally accessible way. Check Mates is best suited to 7 – 10 year olds, but I believe students up to the age of 12 will enjoy this book and its themes, and possibly even relate to its narrator (who is around the same age as them). As well as being funny at times and discussing a potentially new game to some students – chess – it portrays the struggles people with ADHD must face in life and allows children to understand and learn about this in a really digestible way. Also, I liked the way Foster has written and portrayed the internal monologue of Felix as it really shows how his ADHD means he struggles with concentrating.
I loved the characters, the language with which the book was written and the plot progression – with an interesting twist!
May 31, 2020
Felix has ADHD and is constantly getting into trouble at school for not sitting still or for saying the first thought that comes into his head. At home things aren’t great either. His parents are working all the time and he misses his grandma, who died last year. Felix doesn’t want to spent time with his grandad as he thinks he’s miserable and grumpy.
When Felix’s parents go away for the weekend leaving him with grandad, Felix is not happy, especially when grandad tries to teach him how to play chess. Felix has no interest in chess whatsoever but once he masters the basics of the game, it turns out he has quite a talent. For once, Felix knows it feels to be good at something.
This is a lovely story about family relationships with a clear understanding of ADHD thrown into the mix. Add in a little history of life in East Germany during the Cold War and you have the recipe for a great story.
Much better than a Bubble Boy.
When Felix’s parents go away for the weekend leaving him with grandad, Felix is not happy, especially when grandad tries to teach him how to play chess. Felix has no interest in chess whatsoever but once he masters the basics of the game, it turns out he has quite a talent. For once, Felix knows it feels to be good at something.
This is a lovely story about family relationships with a clear understanding of ADHD thrown into the mix. Add in a little history of life in East Germany during the Cold War and you have the recipe for a great story.
Much better than a Bubble Boy.
September 1, 2021
Felix, a young boy with ADHD, finds school difficult. He struggles to concentrate in class and frequently gets in trouble, which he finds frustrating as he “can’t help it”. His ‘boring’ granddad, who is struggling with the loss of his wife, soon hatches a plan to help Felix concentrate - he’s going to teach him chess! A beautiful intergenerational relationship soon develops, that sees both Felix and his granddad branch out of their comfort zones and learn some unexpected, but powerful, lessons.
As another award-winning book, this time for the 2021 UKLA Book Awards, I was expecting big things… and this book definitely didn’t disappoint. In a world where everyone is different, this book is touching and poignant, and celebrates the value of these differences. It is a story of having hope, loving lots, facing fears and learning that everyone has a story to tell!
I would recommend this book for children aged 9-11.
As another award-winning book, this time for the 2021 UKLA Book Awards, I was expecting big things… and this book definitely didn’t disappoint. In a world where everyone is different, this book is touching and poignant, and celebrates the value of these differences. It is a story of having hope, loving lots, facing fears and learning that everyone has a story to tell!
I would recommend this book for children aged 9-11.
May 23, 2019
Check Mates follows a boy named Felix who has ADHD and is subsequently struggling at school, and what happens when his grandfather changes his life by teaching him how to play chess. I really liked Felix as a character- I was rooting for him from the beginning- and his development due to chess, and his grandfather`s, influences. His grandfather was a fantastic character too, as were Felix`s friends Jake and Rebecca. I also really enjoyed watching the progression of Felix and his grandfather`s relationship, and it was fun to learn a bit more about chess than I`d known before reading this. My very favourite thing about this book, though, was the incredibly clever twist, which most definitely surprised me and was very emotional to read. This was simultaneously so heart-warming and gripping, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 4.5/5
August 23, 2020
This heartwarming middle-grade book is about a boy with ADHD, his German grandfather and chess.
At school, Felix gets into trouble regularly. He doesn’t do his homework and interrupts lessons with irrelevant questions. At home he is left to his own devices as both his parents are working long hours. His eccentric grandfather is his babysitter. The story takes a turn when he is left with his grandfather for the weekend.
The characters in the story are compelling. Grandfather’s mysterious past in Germany is a curiosity and bit by bit we learn about it. I don’t know enough about ADHD to know if the way Felix copes with them is realistic, but It was a good feeling to see how he has changed.
I confess I am not a chess fan, so I skimmed through the sections describing chess moves. For this reason, I rate it 3.5*. But I am sure a chess-lover will love these bits.
At school, Felix gets into trouble regularly. He doesn’t do his homework and interrupts lessons with irrelevant questions. At home he is left to his own devices as both his parents are working long hours. His eccentric grandfather is his babysitter. The story takes a turn when he is left with his grandfather for the weekend.
The characters in the story are compelling. Grandfather’s mysterious past in Germany is a curiosity and bit by bit we learn about it. I don’t know enough about ADHD to know if the way Felix copes with them is realistic, but It was a good feeling to see how he has changed.
I confess I am not a chess fan, so I skimmed through the sections describing chess moves. For this reason, I rate it 3.5*. But I am sure a chess-lover will love these bits.
March 31, 2021
Check Mates by Stewart Foster
I found out about this book in a blog post celebrating books in which the main characters are neurodiverse.
It took me a few chapters to get in to this but I was pleased I stuck with it because it got really interesting.
The main character Felix has ADHD like me, he doesn't have good grades and gets sent to the isolation room (so a bit like detention) at least once a week because he finds it hard to concentrate. His Granda decides to teach him chess to try and improve his concentration. At first Felix thinks that he is rubbish at Chess but when he learns how to defend himself then he realises that it's actually quite fun.
My favourite moment in the book was when Felix won the National contest. I felt excited for him and this inspired me to practise my chess more (I got a Chess set for Christmas).
I found out about this book in a blog post celebrating books in which the main characters are neurodiverse.
It took me a few chapters to get in to this but I was pleased I stuck with it because it got really interesting.
The main character Felix has ADHD like me, he doesn't have good grades and gets sent to the isolation room (so a bit like detention) at least once a week because he finds it hard to concentrate. His Granda decides to teach him chess to try and improve his concentration. At first Felix thinks that he is rubbish at Chess but when he learns how to defend himself then he realises that it's actually quite fun.
My favourite moment in the book was when Felix won the National contest. I felt excited for him and this inspired me to practise my chess more (I got a Chess set for Christmas).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2019
This was a very enjoyable read, starting with a protagonist always unintentionally in trouble owing to ADHD, and mapping the slow, steady changes that are introduced in his life that effect improvements. It is about the love between a grandfather and his grandson and how they learn to trust in each other despite the history that Granddad would prefer to remain buried.
Chess is redemptive in this novel. It repairs relationships and improves behaviour. It doesn’t require any knowledge of the game thankfully!
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to my class as the characters are intriguing, there is a strong storyline and a mystery from the past, along with themes of loss, love, betrayal, family and hope.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC of this book.
Chess is redemptive in this novel. It repairs relationships and improves behaviour. It doesn’t require any knowledge of the game thankfully!
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to my class as the characters are intriguing, there is a strong storyline and a mystery from the past, along with themes of loss, love, betrayal, family and hope.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC of this book.
June 23, 2019
This was such a cute book!
Check Mates is the story of Felix and his Granddad. They live in England, but Felix's Grandpa is originally from Germany and being German myself I can say that his character felt very natural and real. The way he spoke was very realistic and I also loved all the tiny things sprinkled in, like the German TV and shows he watched.
This book deals heavily with loss and moving on and all of that throughout a shared love and while also having an interesting historical part weaved in. There is humour and truly heartfelt scenes that all really got to me.
Def a fun middle grade with just enough depth that I would recommend to anyone interested in this age range.
Check Mates is the story of Felix and his Granddad. They live in England, but Felix's Grandpa is originally from Germany and being German myself I can say that his character felt very natural and real. The way he spoke was very realistic and I also loved all the tiny things sprinkled in, like the German TV and shows he watched.
This book deals heavily with loss and moving on and all of that throughout a shared love and while also having an interesting historical part weaved in. There is humour and truly heartfelt scenes that all really got to me.
Def a fun middle grade with just enough depth that I would recommend to anyone interested in this age range.
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