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Check Mates

By Stewart Foster
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Check Mates by Stewart Foster is a touching story about a young boy named Felix, who struggles with concentration and behaviour challenges. Through spending time with his grandfather and learning how to play chess, he discovers unexpected life skills and builds an unlikely bond. This heartfelt tale explores themes of family, patience, and personal growth.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are interested in heartfelt stories about family, friendship, and personal growth. It explores the meaningful bond between a grandfather and his grandson, showcasing the power of chess to build connections and change lives. Ideal for young readers who appreciate a touching tale with a mix of humour and emotion.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A funny, moving and utterly original story from Stewart Foster, award-winning author of THE BUBBLE BOY 

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

WINNER OF THE UKLA BOOK AWARDS 2021

'Funny and heartfelt with a cunning twist. Stewart Foster is a grandmaster' – ROSS WELFORD

'An inspirational underdog story and a chilling mystery! A winning combination' – DAVID SOLOMONS

Some people think that I’m a problem child, that I’m lazy and never pay attention in lessons. But the thing is, I’m not a problem child at all. I’m just a child with a problem.

Felix is struggling at school. His ADHD makes it hard for him to concentrate and his grades are slipping. Everyone keeps telling him to try harder, but no one seems to understand just how hard he finds it.

When Mum suggests Felix spends time with his grandfather, Felix can’t think of anything worse. Granddad hasn’t been the same since Grandma died. Plus he’s always trying to teach Felix boring chess. But sometimes the best lessons come in the most unexpected of places, and Granddad soon shows Felix that there’s everything to play for.

Praise for ALL THE THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG

'A moving, humane, funny portrait of two very different boys discovering what connects us all.' Kiran Milwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars

‘It’s amazing!’ Ross Welford, author of Time Travelling with a Hamster

'I loved it.' Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy

'A touching, funny, gripping read that tackles important issues in a sensitive and thoroughly enjoyable way. Highly recommended.' Stuart Robinson, author of If Ever I Fall

'A timely story of courage and reminder of what we all share.' Christopher Edge, author of The Many Worlds of Albie Bright

'Powerful and warm ... this will linger long in the mind.' Guardian

Praise for THE BUBBLE BOY, winner of the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award in 2016

‘Poignant, hopeful and heartbreaking.’ Fiona Noble – Children’s Editor, The Bookseller

'Deeply moving and utterly gripping . . . Stewart Foster carries off an astonishing feat of storytelling in this exceptional book' Julia Eccleshare, lovereading.co.uk

‘A gripping and deeply moving book.’ Jamila Gavin, author of Coram Boy

'One thing we know about good books is their amazing ability to inspire empathy in the reader; to explore ideas and viewpoints that arise from experiences that are out of our own realm. The Bubble Boy does this with warmth, quirkiness and a light-hearted touch.' Guardian

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781471172236

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 June 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 352

Collections

Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Stewart Foster Young Adult

About the Author

Stewart Foster is an adult and children's novelist, born in Bath. His books have won multiple school and library awards and are recommended by Empathy Lab and Reading Well. His first adult book, We Used to be Kings, was published in 2014, to the accolades of being selected as The Observers' Author to Watch, and Amazons' Rising Star, in the same year. His first children's book, The Bubble Boy, was published in 2016, winning Sainsbury's Children's Book Award in 2016 (Age 9+) and many schools and libraries awards, as well as being nominated for The Carnegie Book Award. The book was published as BUBBLE, in USA and has been translated into eleven languages. Since then, Stewart has written four more children's books – All the Things That Could Go Wrong, Checkmates, The Perfect Parent Project and Can You Feel the Noise?

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  • The Bubble Boy
    Winner of the 9+ category of the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award and shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award. What would you do if you could never leave your bubble? A poignant, heartwarming tale from inside the hospital walls that teaches children the importance of treating people with kindness and empathy. Perfect for fans of Wonder and The Boy At The...
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  • All the Way Down
    A life-affirming story about friendship, adventure and self-belief, from the award-winning author of The Bubble Boy. Perfect for fans of Louis Sachar’s Holes and Elle McNicoll’s A Kind of Spark. When three eleven-year-old ‘problem children’ are thrown together at summer camp, they’re challenged to build a place to live together for the next week. But after a trip to a...
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  • Pieces of Us
    Two secrets, an unbreakable bond . . . a powerful and heartbreaking love letter to a life-changing friendship, from award-winning author, Stewart Foster. I wish you were here, because maybe this isn’t a story, or a diary. Perhaps it’s just the longest thank you letter a friend could ever write. As the summer before college begins, Jonas is hiding a secret. He...
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    Two secrets, an unbreakable bond. The powerful YA debut from award-winner Stewart Foster charts the friendship of a lifetime. I wish you were here, because maybe this isn’t a story, or a diary. Perhaps it’s just the longest thank you letter a friend could ever write. As the summer before college begins, Jonas is hiding a secret. He suffers from...
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  • All The Things That Could Go Wrong
    A moving, humane, funny portrait of two very different boys discovering what connects us all Kiran Milwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars ‘It’s amazing! Such a bold idea to have a character like Dan… you pulled it off brilliantly.’ Ross Welford, author of Time Travelling with a Hamster 'I loved it' Lisa Thompson, author of The...
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  • The Perfect Parent Project
    From the award-winning author of THE BUBBLE BOY comes a heart-warming and unforgettable story? that follows one boy’s search for the perfect family, with surprising and unexpected results. Perfect for fans of Onjali Q. Rauf and Lisa Thompson. 'Friendship, laughter, suspense and more!' - Ross Welford, author of TIME TRAVELLING WITH A HAMSTER and THE 1000-YEAR-OLD BOY THINGS MY PERFECT PARENTS...
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  • Can You Feel the Noise?
    A profound story about inner strength and perseverance in the face of a life-changing event, from the award-winning author of The Bubble Boy. Perfect for fans of R. J. Palacio's Wonder and Lisa Thompson's The Goldfish Boy. ‘A wonderful book about overcoming a life-changing event and the remarkable power of music.’ – Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy Life...
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