10% off all books and free delivery over £40
Buy from our bookstore and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice to buy more books. *15% of eBooks.

Check Mates

"A heartfelt, humorous, pitch-perfect middle grade gem with mystery, mates and the odds-defying moves of a chess champ."

View All Editions

£7.99 £7.19

In Stock. Same day dispatch on orders before 3pm.

Add To Wishlist
Write A Review Read An Extract

LoveReading4Kids Says

LoveReading4Kids Says

Winner of the UKLA Book Awards 2021

What a luminously life-enhancing read this is. The story of ADHD afflicted underdog Felix, who “can’t concentrate or keep still”. His East German Granddad now (embarrassingly) drives the pink car that used to belong to his deceased Grandma, whose death has hit them all hard. Felix and Granddad’s grief is laid bare with heart-wrenching authenticity, but theirs is a complex relationship: “I love my granddad and I think he loves me, but sometimes it’s hard to tell.”

After an altercation, Felix and Granddad forge an understanding, and look forward to a “neuangfang” (new start) that begins with a list of “Ten things I’d like to teach Felix”. Unfortunately, in Felix’s eyes Granddad’s list comprises the “ten more boring things in the world”, but Felix works through it until only the most dreaded activity remains - playing chess. He tries to wriggle out of it, but “crafty” Granddad has been surreptitiously teaching Felix chess skills and he’s soon hooked by the game, with unexpected positive side effects.

A thrilling team tournament is followed waves of pulse-quickening twists that will thrust readers to the edge of their seats, heart in mouth. Throughout, the rollercoaster ride of primary school life - fallings out, friendship, fear of not fitting in - is explored in all its intense and comic complexity, and the representation of working class realisms is spot-on too. Felix’s mum and dad have both been “working stacks since Dad’s plumbing business went bust last year”. But, best of all, the magic of the relationship between children and their grandparents is dazzlingly conjured. I adored it.

Joanne Owen

Star Books

Find This Book In

Suitable For:
Other Genres:
Recommendations:

About

Press Reviews

Author

More

Collections Featuring This Book

Book Awards Featuring This Book

You Might Also Like...

9+ readers

The Last Life of Lori Mills

Max Boucherat

Paperback

Pre-order. 4th July 2024

£7.19 £7.99

9+ readers

Ice Cream Boy

Lindsay Littleson

Paperback

Pre-order. 16th May 2024

£7.19 £7.99

9+ readers

Dork Diaries: I Love Paris!

Rachel Renee Russell

Paperback

Pre-order. 9th May 2024

£7.19 £7.99

9+ readers

The Weather Girls

Sarah Webb

Paperback

Pre-order. 26th April 2024

£8.09 £8.99

9+ readers

Foxlight

Katya Balen

Paperback

Pre-order. 25th April 2024

£7.19 £7.99

9+ readers

The Swifts: A Gallery of Rogues

Beth Lincoln

Hardback

Pre-order. 18th April 2024

£11.69 £12.99