May the Best Player Win

May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao is a humorous and heartfelt MG debut that explores chess, girl power, and performance anxiety in elite sports.

Tick, toc . . . Tick, toc . . . The clock is ticking for May Li, whose middle-school chess team just earned a victory at the state championship, propelling them into high gear in preparation for nationals. What's more exciting for May is that her win came with a special award for being the top female player in the tournament. An award that earns her a spot on a splashy Lingard Middle School campaign celebrating student achievements.

May should be thrilled. However, some of her teammates, including her supposed-to-be-friend Ralph, aren't too keen on the special attention she's receiving—and they're even questioning her skills. Unwilling to back down, May makes a bold move: she bets Ralph she can win Lingard's internal chess tournament and become team captain for nationals.

Under the pressure from her teammates and the school's expectations, May starts to crumble under pressure. Anxious feelings begin to strip the joy from chess and even affect her gameplay. Rediscovering the joy in chess might be just what May needs to win the bet.

The board is set. The game is on! The crown is May's for the taking.

This novel is perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Celia C. Perez!