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Perpetual Check
Randy is a chubby ninth grader with a Cub Scout hair cut who guesses M&M colors with his eyes closed and makes up words. He’s also a chess whiz who has defeated his older brother Zeke in nine of their last ten matches. Zeke is a high school senior, a soccer champ, and a chess natural who can beat just about anyone if he decides to really concentrate. So why is his loser little brother the better athlete, the better chess player, and the first to have a girlfriend?
The competition heightens when both Randy and Zeke qualify for the Northeast Regional of the Pennsylvania High School Chess Championships (Randy is seeded, Zeke is not)—and play their way right into a brother-tobrother final round. Told in alternating points of view between brothers, Rich Wallace’s new novel brings to life one of America’s favorite pastimes in a suspenseful story about competition and family loyalty.
Rich Wallace is the author of several books for young adults, including One Good Punch, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and Wrestling Sturbridge, an ALA Quick Pick. He lives in Pennsylvania.
The competition heightens when both Randy and Zeke qualify for the Northeast Regional of the Pennsylvania High School Chess Championships (Randy is seeded, Zeke is not)—and play their way right into a brother-tobrother final round. Told in alternating points of view between brothers, Rich Wallace’s new novel brings to life one of America’s favorite pastimes in a suspenseful story about competition and family loyalty.
Rich Wallace is the author of several books for young adults, including One Good Punch, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and Wrestling Sturbridge, an ALA Quick Pick. He lives in Pennsylvania.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 28, 2009
The more I contemplated and reflected on this book the more I liked it.
This book was about complicated family relationships.
Two brothers compete in a regional chess tournament, that inevitably will have them playing against each other. The brothers are in perpetual check with each other and their father, and his endless expectations. (Perpetual check is a chess term used when neither player can force checkmate on their opponent, and they repeat a series of checks and evasions without a resolution to the game. It is usually considered a draw and the game starts over.)
Dad is conceited and competitive, having never succeeded in sports, or anything himself, he pushes his boys to excel for him- all for the thrill of winning. His unending lectures (that don't really provide any information that is useful or new) bore his children and they dread being with him. He embarrasses them with his bigotry and disrespect for the rules of the tournament.
Zeke Mansfield, the elder of the boys, never pushes himself to focus or go the extra mile. His ego makes him believe in his natural abilities and that intimidating his opponent will be enough to win. This proves fatal time and again as he always comes in second place with sports and chess. However he is constantly plagued by the fact that his little brother is better than him in both.
Randy Mansfield is four years younger but with a more centered vision of life. He quit sports earlier, despite being better than his brother, due to his father’s steady stream of stern advice. He doesn't care about popularity, but has more friends and even has a girlfriend. But he is constantly aware that if his brother ever did focus and go the extra mile he would be the better player.
Both boys look to the other as the superior. As the tournament progresses their relationship is strengthened. They come to realize that they don’t have to compete against each other in life, instead they opt for a more mutual and peaceful relationship. They come to accept their real life perpetual check and, better yet, like it.
I liked the writing style that allows you to see the story from both sides. The chess tournament was interesting and, while slightly predictable, uncertain. Children will enjoy learning about how chess tournaments are conducted and the vocabulary that comes with it.
While I approved of the brothers finding a way to be closer. I was hesitant to accept the giving-up attitude the book encourages toward the father. I was uncomfortable with the continual “he has to go” mindset. People can overcome problems and family adversity and I didn't really like the spirit of quitting. Sure, a father who is competitive, annoying, rude, and condescending is unpleasant but many successful families have a father or other family member with these traits.
That is not to say that all marriages should be relentless in sticking together despite personal conflicts. I will be the first to admit that sometimes a lady needs to kick out a bum who is not supporting or is hurting his family. Still in this book the hurt seemed like it could maybe be reconciled with some serious family counseling. Well... it's hard to say.
A good read overall.
This book was about complicated family relationships.
Two brothers compete in a regional chess tournament, that inevitably will have them playing against each other. The brothers are in perpetual check with each other and their father, and his endless expectations. (Perpetual check is a chess term used when neither player can force checkmate on their opponent, and they repeat a series of checks and evasions without a resolution to the game. It is usually considered a draw and the game starts over.)
Dad is conceited and competitive, having never succeeded in sports, or anything himself, he pushes his boys to excel for him- all for the thrill of winning. His unending lectures (that don't really provide any information that is useful or new) bore his children and they dread being with him. He embarrasses them with his bigotry and disrespect for the rules of the tournament.
Zeke Mansfield, the elder of the boys, never pushes himself to focus or go the extra mile. His ego makes him believe in his natural abilities and that intimidating his opponent will be enough to win. This proves fatal time and again as he always comes in second place with sports and chess. However he is constantly plagued by the fact that his little brother is better than him in both.
Randy Mansfield is four years younger but with a more centered vision of life. He quit sports earlier, despite being better than his brother, due to his father’s steady stream of stern advice. He doesn't care about popularity, but has more friends and even has a girlfriend. But he is constantly aware that if his brother ever did focus and go the extra mile he would be the better player.
Both boys look to the other as the superior. As the tournament progresses their relationship is strengthened. They come to realize that they don’t have to compete against each other in life, instead they opt for a more mutual and peaceful relationship. They come to accept their real life perpetual check and, better yet, like it.
I liked the writing style that allows you to see the story from both sides. The chess tournament was interesting and, while slightly predictable, uncertain. Children will enjoy learning about how chess tournaments are conducted and the vocabulary that comes with it.
While I approved of the brothers finding a way to be closer. I was hesitant to accept the giving-up attitude the book encourages toward the father. I was uncomfortable with the continual “he has to go” mindset. People can overcome problems and family adversity and I didn't really like the spirit of quitting. Sure, a father who is competitive, annoying, rude, and condescending is unpleasant but many successful families have a father or other family member with these traits.
That is not to say that all marriages should be relentless in sticking together despite personal conflicts. I will be the first to admit that sometimes a lady needs to kick out a bum who is not supporting or is hurting his family. Still in this book the hurt seemed like it could maybe be reconciled with some serious family counseling. Well... it's hard to say.
A good read overall.
January 20, 2021
Nice short story but it was short. Read in one day. It certainly has some good elements but do not go read this because you like chess. Many of the actual chess parts of the book were very simplified and were almost hard to read. If you even play chess at a basic level, you may be disappointed at the simplicity of it all.
Read
May 31, 2022good 2 point of view (two brothers).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2009
Summary: Perpetual Check by Rich Wallace is about two brothers, Zeke and Randy Mansfield, and their relationship with not just each other, but also their father. Zeke is a high school senior, a good soccer player, and a natural chess player that started beating his father at the age of six. Zeke can beat almost anybody, except his little brother. Randy on the other hand is a high school freshman, he’s a little pudgy with a haircut paralleling a Cub Scout, he likes to make up words, and he’s a chess whiz that beats his brother nine times out of ten. But this time, tension runs high since both Zeke and Randy have qualified for a major high school regional championship. If the boys bring everything they’ve got and play their best, then it could quite possibly sit one against the other. Their father is there from the beginning, putting more pressure on the boys, coaching from the sidelines and intimidating everyone until they break or try too hard. Now it’s time to see who wins, who loses, and who is loyal.
Review: This wasn’t the best book, but it wasn’t the worst either. Knowledge of chess would have been really helpful, because it can get a little confusing when they are talking about the pieces and the moves if you don’t know anything about chess. Each chapter goes back and forth between perspectives, starting with Zeke. That can also be confusing at first, since you have to continue reading the chapter to know who is talking; but later their personalities show through enough to recognize who is “speaking.” There are some conflicts between the brothers that seem trivial, but then you remember they are brothers and it’s understandable. It’s an extremely quick read, something that can be read in one sitting, seeing as it is only 112 pages. I usually like reading from a male perspective, but this is just not a book with much character development or really story. I can’t say I would recommend this to most people, I would recommend this for someone younger, male, and into chess; but probably not most females.
Review: This wasn’t the best book, but it wasn’t the worst either. Knowledge of chess would have been really helpful, because it can get a little confusing when they are talking about the pieces and the moves if you don’t know anything about chess. Each chapter goes back and forth between perspectives, starting with Zeke. That can also be confusing at first, since you have to continue reading the chapter to know who is talking; but later their personalities show through enough to recognize who is “speaking.” There are some conflicts between the brothers that seem trivial, but then you remember they are brothers and it’s understandable. It’s an extremely quick read, something that can be read in one sitting, seeing as it is only 112 pages. I usually like reading from a male perspective, but this is just not a book with much character development or really story. I can’t say I would recommend this to most people, I would recommend this for someone younger, male, and into chess; but probably not most females.
May 16, 2009
I really like Rich Wallace, but this book was disappointing. He normally uses sports and competition as a vehicle to explore identity and personal relationships, and normally does it very well.
Unfortunately, this book will have a limited audience, mainly because it is about two brothers who compete in the world of chess. Not enough kids understand chess and the universality of the chess game, when compared with life. The descriptions of many of the matches lose something because the reader won't catch the significance of the moves.
The biggest mistake Wallace made with this book was to explain too much in backstory. He could have revealed the necessary elements through vignettes, or conversation, or any other device, but he chose to write plain old descriptive paragraphs about earlier times in the boys' lives or character features. I just didn't like that.
I could immediately identify with all of the major characters, however. Zeke has so many qualities that mirror one of my kids, it was scary. I did like the way the dysfunction of the family, squarely on the shoulders of the dad, built up through the novel, so that the tension at the final match was totally connected to it. A flaw in the story was the fact that the dad was not outright ejected at one point by the judges for interferring in the match. He would have been in the real world.
The novel started getting good right at the end. I think Wallace's editor fell down on the job for this one. It could have been a better novel, and ignorance of chess could have been handled in such a way that the target audience would have grown.
Too bad.
Unfortunately, this book will have a limited audience, mainly because it is about two brothers who compete in the world of chess. Not enough kids understand chess and the universality of the chess game, when compared with life. The descriptions of many of the matches lose something because the reader won't catch the significance of the moves.
The biggest mistake Wallace made with this book was to explain too much in backstory. He could have revealed the necessary elements through vignettes, or conversation, or any other device, but he chose to write plain old descriptive paragraphs about earlier times in the boys' lives or character features. I just didn't like that.
I could immediately identify with all of the major characters, however. Zeke has so many qualities that mirror one of my kids, it was scary. I did like the way the dysfunction of the family, squarely on the shoulders of the dad, built up through the novel, so that the tension at the final match was totally connected to it. A flaw in the story was the fact that the dad was not outright ejected at one point by the judges for interferring in the match. He would have been in the real world.
The novel started getting good right at the end. I think Wallace's editor fell down on the job for this one. It could have been a better novel, and ignorance of chess could have been handled in such a way that the target audience would have grown.
Too bad.
September 21, 2009
Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
Two brothers. One championship.
Both Zeke and Randy Mansfield have made it to the Northeast Regional Pennsylvania High School Chess Championship. Zeke, the overly confident senior who succeeds in soccer, baseball, and tennis, was the top chess player in their school before Randy entered as a freshman. He's the one their father calls "Ace," and their father's obsessive coaching has turned Zeke's bravado into a weapon that he intends to wield during the tournament.
For Randy, the slightly overweight freshman who makes up words for fun, chess is something that comes naturally, and he doesn't let the fact that he's beaten his older brother nine times out of ten effect his expectations for the tournament.
As the championship progresses, and more talented players are eliminated, it becomes clear that the Mansfield brothers will be facing off against each other in the semifinals. With their father on the sidelines, more excited and competitive than both of them about this match, each brother begins to realize that perhaps their strategies toward chess - and life - aren't so different and incompatible after all.
No matter who wins, this tournament is bound to bring them closer, and offer an understanding that each of them had never thought possible.
I honestly never thought that I'd find a story about a chess match so exciting and compelling. Although one does not need to be a skilled chess player to enjoy this quick, endearing read, it would help the reader to have a basic knowledge of the pieces and workings of the game to increase their enjoyment of this tale.
Two brothers. One championship.
Both Zeke and Randy Mansfield have made it to the Northeast Regional Pennsylvania High School Chess Championship. Zeke, the overly confident senior who succeeds in soccer, baseball, and tennis, was the top chess player in their school before Randy entered as a freshman. He's the one their father calls "Ace," and their father's obsessive coaching has turned Zeke's bravado into a weapon that he intends to wield during the tournament.
For Randy, the slightly overweight freshman who makes up words for fun, chess is something that comes naturally, and he doesn't let the fact that he's beaten his older brother nine times out of ten effect his expectations for the tournament.
As the championship progresses, and more talented players are eliminated, it becomes clear that the Mansfield brothers will be facing off against each other in the semifinals. With their father on the sidelines, more excited and competitive than both of them about this match, each brother begins to realize that perhaps their strategies toward chess - and life - aren't so different and incompatible after all.
No matter who wins, this tournament is bound to bring them closer, and offer an understanding that each of them had never thought possible.
I honestly never thought that I'd find a story about a chess match so exciting and compelling. Although one does not need to be a skilled chess player to enjoy this quick, endearing read, it would help the reader to have a basic knowledge of the pieces and workings of the game to increase their enjoyment of this tale.
July 27, 2012
“Two brothers. One championship.” One really annoying dad.
Zeke and Randy are brothers. Zeke is a senior and Randy is a freshman. Both play chess and are playing in a regional tournament in Scranton, Pennsylvania with the hopes of winning a $1,000 scholarship and an invite to the state tournament. Randy is easy going and friendly and Zeke is a bit of a jerk. Although these boys are very different from one another and don’t generally get along, It is at this tournament that they both reach their breaking point with their meddling father.
Not too long ago I read “One Good Punch” which was set in Scranton, PA as well, and featured a teen track star with a problem. Now reading “Perpetual Check”, I’m beginning to see that Rich Wallace really has a knack for writing quick reading sports dramas.
I really appreciated how in just 112 pages he takes us into the youth chess world, introduces us to a dysfunctional family, and presents us with signs of a resolution to sibling rivalry and parental interference. It isn’t burdened down with chess match details he just provides enough so that the novice and the experienced player get the picture. In addition, the resolution does not feel forced or contrived. While he occasionally gives us a glimpse into the past of these characters, Wallace mainly just gives us a day in their life, and it just happens to be the day that they both come together and have had enough. Teens 13 and up will really be able to relate to these characters, and it may just spark a little interest in the game of chess.
Zeke and Randy are brothers. Zeke is a senior and Randy is a freshman. Both play chess and are playing in a regional tournament in Scranton, Pennsylvania with the hopes of winning a $1,000 scholarship and an invite to the state tournament. Randy is easy going and friendly and Zeke is a bit of a jerk. Although these boys are very different from one another and don’t generally get along, It is at this tournament that they both reach their breaking point with their meddling father.
Not too long ago I read “One Good Punch” which was set in Scranton, PA as well, and featured a teen track star with a problem. Now reading “Perpetual Check”, I’m beginning to see that Rich Wallace really has a knack for writing quick reading sports dramas.
I really appreciated how in just 112 pages he takes us into the youth chess world, introduces us to a dysfunctional family, and presents us with signs of a resolution to sibling rivalry and parental interference. It isn’t burdened down with chess match details he just provides enough so that the novice and the experienced player get the picture. In addition, the resolution does not feel forced or contrived. While he occasionally gives us a glimpse into the past of these characters, Wallace mainly just gives us a day in their life, and it just happens to be the day that they both come together and have had enough. Teens 13 and up will really be able to relate to these characters, and it may just spark a little interest in the game of chess.
August 25, 2009
I really enjoyed following the drama of this chess tournament. Getting to know the players, imagining the games. But I think if kids didn't know the basic rules of chess, they would quickly get lost. Wallace usually writes sports books, and it does show - he does a good job of making it exciting, but again, there isn't a primer in here about how to actually play the game. I liked the realistic interplay between the brothers and the relatively unusual villain. One thing that bugged me (at least at first, before I got wrapped up in the story) - the author switches tenses all the time. "Bobby was a great man... Bobby says." Like I said, I either got used to it, or he stopped (which, I suppose wouldn't be a good thing). Anyway, enjoyable, but I'm not sure I could pull off a booktalk. I'll see what's out there, but really - a chess tournament? To jr. highers? It feels like a J (just over 100 pages), but actually has some language and other thematic material that makes it a YA.
October 27, 2011
A king is never going to earn a stalemate against a king and queen in tournament chess. And questioning whether to take a knight or queen for your promoted pawn, when checkmate is only 2 moves away? I don’t know of any tourneys that end in one game playoffs either, given the huge advantage of first move. These aren’t the only dubious chess strategies, and they just about kill this book for any knowledgeable fan. That may sound like an overreaction, but the story revolves around the tournament. The gameplay can’t afford to be annoying.
Zack and Randy’s dad is a smoking tower of annoying. He’s an embarrassing Type A sports parent, and earns maybe a half-star for unintentional humor. The sibling rivalry dynamic is also good, but I don’t like the writing as much as other books by Wallace. Bottom line, this is a quick read that’s quickly set aside.
Zack and Randy’s dad is a smoking tower of annoying. He’s an embarrassing Type A sports parent, and earns maybe a half-star for unintentional humor. The sibling rivalry dynamic is also good, but I don’t like the writing as much as other books by Wallace. Bottom line, this is a quick read that’s quickly set aside.
August 11, 2009
When Zeke was 6 years old, his father taught him how to play chess. After about three weeks, Zeke could beat his dad, and he was thrilled to be able to beat someone who was older. Until it started to happen to him. Zeke is now a senior, and his brother, Randy, is a freshman. They have both qualified for the regional tournament, and it’s likely that the two brothers will meet in the semi-final. This is one of those stories that starts out being about one thing, and turns out to be about something totally different. The whole book takes place in a less than 24 hour window. It’s a quick read, and it’s a neat look at competitive chess, brothers, and families. Possibly a good reluctant reader read, especially for boys.
February 5, 2015
I absolutely adored this book. This book was about two brothers that are total opposites, that go head to head in a chess battle. Zeke, the football player competes with his brother Randy, the chess nerd. I found this book to be humorous and very descriptive. The author found certain words to use in context to draw me into the book. This book was definitely written for a teenage audience. It had humor of teenagers and it appeal to most teenagers interests. On that note, I would definitely recommend this book to young adults. This book was funny realistic and had a good moral to it. I rated this book 5 stars.
June 16, 2016
This book would have worked so much better as a short story. I think there is an audience for it for students who play chess (or much of this wouldn't make much sense) that aren't advanced readers. The characterization was blatant with not much of a plot. The third person writing made it worse. I was constantly reading thier names over and over like the author forgot to use pronouns. I know that it sounds harsh but it really irked me. Overall, if I had a student that fit the "audience" for this book, I would recommend it, but I don't there is much of one.
September 27, 2011
Perpetual Check is about 2 brothers in 1 chess tournament with 1 overbearing dad. It is a brief look at the family dynamics and the pressures of competition mixed with socialization in high school. It looks closely at the 2 brothers' relationships in the midst of pressure from parents and competition.
I came across this book while trying to find books about chess and thought I'd give it a try. It was entertaining enough, but I'm pretty sure this is a very forgettable read.
I came across this book while trying to find books about chess and thought I'd give it a try. It was entertaining enough, but I'm pretty sure this is a very forgettable read.
May 29, 2013
Perpetual Check is about 2 brothers in 1 chess tournament with 1 overbearing dad. It is a brief look at the family dynamics and the pressures of competition mixed with socialization in high school. It looks closely at the 2 brothers' relationships in the midst of pressure from parents and competition.
August 17, 2009
I couldn't finish this book - it was terrible. I am trying to find books that have chess as part of the plot, which is how I ended up with this one, butnothing about the chess in the book was accurate or believable.
July 17, 2009
Wallace weaves an interesting tale centering on a chess tournament. The characters are interesting and multi-dimensional, and the plot includes more than meets the eye. Unfortunately, chess is not a game that I enjoy, and I was bored by the details of each chess game in the tournament.
September 7, 2009
At 112 pages, this novel manages to show the serious psychological problems of a family surprisingly well. Two brothers enter a chess tournament and discover that they can be friends despite their father's interference. The characters change quickly, but somehow, it is believable.
April 1, 2009
Two brothers begin to connect as they compete, eventually against each other, in a regional chess tournament.
April 23, 2009
Not at all what I expected. It was different and had a unique voice, but it was a little confusing as to where it was going. Besides, there was a bit too much profanity for my taste.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews