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May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao

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May the Best Player Win

Kyla Zhao

Penguin Young Readers Group · Hardcover · September 17, 2024

Reading lane: Soccer Stories

The game is on in this fun-filled middle grade debut about chess, girl power, and performance anxiety in sports, perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Celia C.

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At a Glance

Who It's For

Good for fans of Middle GradeGood for readers who enjoy Soccer Stories and JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Gymnastics.

Book Details

Authors
Kyla Zhao
Publisher
Penguin Young Readers Group
Published
September 17, 2024
Format
Hardcover
Theme
Soccer Stories · JUVENILE FICTION / Sports & Recreation / Gymnastics
Reading lane
Soccer Stories

Affinity

Publisher Categories

  • US: Asian American Stories

  • Games & Play

  • Friendship

About This Book

The game is on in this fun-filled middle grade debut about chess, girl power, and performance anxiety in sports, perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Celia C. Pérez! The clock is ticking for May Li, whose middle-school chess team just earned a victory at the state championship—and with it, a ticket to nationals. What’s even more exciting is that May got an award for being the top female player and a splashy feature in the biggest chess magazine in the country. May should be th...

Read full description

The game is on in this fun-filled middle grade debut about chess, girl power, and performance anxiety in sports, perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Celia C. Pérez! The clock is ticking for May Li, whose middle-school chess team just earned a victory at the state championship—and with it, a ticket to nationals. What’s even more exciting is that May got an award for being the top female player and a splashy feature in the biggest chess magazine in the country. May should be thrilled. But some of her teammates, including her supposed-to-be-friend Ralph, aren’t too pleased with the attention she’s getting—and they’re even questioning her skills. Backed into a corner, but not one to back down, May makes a move as bold as any of her chess tactics: She bets Ralph she can win the school’s internal tournament and be chosen as team captain for nationals. The crown is May’s for the taking . . . except she’s starting to crumble under the weight of everyone’s expectations. Anxious feelings begin to affect her performance and, what’s worse, eat away at her love for the game. Now May is left to wonder: Can you still play for fun when you’re playing to win?

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