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Check & Mate
Ali Hazelwood
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Mallory Greenleaf vows to never play chess again after it leads to the destruction of her family. That is, until she reluctantly plays a final match against chess champion, the notorious “King Killer” Nolan Sawyer during a charity game. To everyone's surprise, she expertly defeats him. Mallory wants to walk away from chess forever, but Nolan just can’t handle the loss. He wants to beat her at any cost. Meanwhile, Mallory realizes her chess skills could win her large amounts of sorely needed cash prizes. As she continues to work her way up the ranks, Nolan’s resolve only grows. As chess tournaments come and go, their rivalry isn’t the only thing growing between them.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Parental death, Sexism
Discussion questions
How does Mallory's feelings/associations about playing chess change as she navigates her life?
What sorts of mental and emotional strategies do both Mallory and Nolan use to protect themselves from difficulties in their lives? Are they effective strategies?
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This would be a good addition to book groups. It's a romance novel with some depth, so it would appeal to those people who like romance and also have enough depth to facilitate good conversation.
Write a love letter to someone. It could be someone you want to be kissy face with or someone who you love in a more platonic way...a best friend, cousin, parent...
Write about something you used to do that you don't do any more. What brought you away from it? What would it feel like to go back to it?
Ali Hazelwood
I’m originally from Italy, lived in Japan and Germany, and eventually moved to the US to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. I recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies me. When I’m not at work you can find me binge-watching shows with my three feline overlords (and my slightly less feline husband), running, or eating candy.
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