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Grandmaster (2014)

by David Klass(Favorite Author)

3.97 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0374327718 (ISBN13: 9780374327712)

languge

English

genre

Young Adult Fiction

publisher

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

review 1: Loved it! Great YA book about an unusual subject. It reminded me of Louis Sachar 'The Cardturner' but that was about Bridge and this is about Chess. I don't know anything about either but love a book that draws me into a world that I know nothing about especially a sport.Daniel is the kind of guy I root for--not mainstream but not a bad boy either. I loved the contrasts between three different types of fathers and the influence they have on the sons they are each raising. The book makes Daniel's family very ordinary with a house that is a bit shabby and a dad that is bald with a potbelly and a rather boring sounding job. I could just imagine it. We see the nonathletic Daniel struggling away at a private school that his parents can't really afford trying to fit in somewhere... more. He feels he didn't inherit the right genes for success.Along comes the opportunity to participate in a Chess competition and it turns out his Dad has a secret past as a Chess Grandmaster. The author really explores what happens to a person under the stress of competition. Winning can be addictive and it can mean you have to sacrifice too much of yourself to always be on top of your game. Is it worth it? You feel by the end that you know what is important in life. I loved the family dynamics and the sweet romance that is budding by the end of the story. It is a truly satisfying book.
review 2: I enjoy David Klass's writing. This is a story featuring high school freshman, Daniel, who is asked to join in on a father/son chess tournament. Unbeknownst to him, his dad is also invited because he is a Grandmaster. His dad never told him of his status until now. Apparently, he wanted to avoid ever thinking about the game again.The reader learns about the dark side of chess playing. Players can get so involved that they find that they cannot think of anything else, avoiding sleep and food. This dad was one of these players. This is an intense read.Klass himself told me that he was once a chess player, but he gave it up in order to start dating girls. The story is somewhat based on his dad. Recommended for grades 9-12 readers. less

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