Grandmaster

Reach for this book when you notice your teenager struggling with the weight of expectations or trying to bridge the gap with a parent who feels emotionally distant. It follows Daniel, a teen who discovers a hidden talent for chess that suddenly gives him common ground with his father, a man obsessed with the game's competitive prestige. While the backdrop is the high pressure world of tournament chess, the story is truly about the delicate process of carving out an identity that is separate from one's parents while still craving their approval. It is a realistic, character driven novel for ages 12 and up that validates the feelings of being an underdog and the complicated nature of family loyalty.