May the Best Player Win, Kyla Zhao
May the Best Player Win, Kyla Zhao
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May the Best Player Win

Author: Kyla Zhao

Narrator: Annie Q Riegal

Unabridged: 5 hr 54 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/17/2024


Synopsis

The game is on in this fun-filled middle grade debut about chess, girl power, and performance anxiety in sports, perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Celia C. Pérez!

The clock is ticking for May Li, whose middle-school chess team just earned a victory at the state championship—and with it, a ticket to nationals. What’s even more exciting is that May got an award for being the top female player and a splashy feature in the biggest chess magazine in the country.

May should be thrilled. But some of her teammates, including her supposed-to-be-friend Ralph, aren’t too pleased with the attention she’s getting—and they’re even questioning her skills. Backed into a corner, but not one to back down, May makes a move as bold as any of her chess tactics: She bets Ralph she can win the school’s internal tournament and be chosen as team captain for nationals.

The crown is May’s for the taking . . . except she’s starting to crumble under the weight of everyone’s expectations. Anxious feelings begin to affect her performance and, what’s worse, eat away at her love for the game. Now May is left to wonder: Can you still play for fun when you’re playing to win?

About The Author

Kyla Zhao is the author of The Fraud Squad (Berkley, 2023). She had her first women's magazine byline at the age of sixteen. Since then, she has also written for the Singapore editions of Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Tatler. A native Singaporean, Kyla now works in Silicon Valley after graduating from Stanford University in 2021. In 2023, Kyla made Forbes Asia's 30 under 30 list. She’s still trying to understand why Californians adore hiking and Patagonia fleeces so much. May the Best Player Win is her middle-grade debut.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Dramapuppy on February 27, 2025

Read this in one sitting, so I obviously enjoyed it. The frequent games keep the pace clicking along, even as a reader who knows nothing about chess. But I couldn’t get past the writer’s restrictive and obsessive stances on food. There are dozens of remarks, each benign on its own, that add up to a c......more

Goodreads review by Camille on March 22, 2024

I read an early draft of this book and I absolutely loved it. This lovely debut middle grade novel is filled with friendships, girls finding their place, and AMAZING high stakes chess scenes. I cannot wait for this book to be out and for so many readers to find themselves represented in these pages......more

Goodreads review by belle ☆ミ (thisbellereadstoo) on October 14, 2024

may is on her way to win the nationals after her middle school chess team just won a the state championship. furthermore, she got an award for being the top female player and will even be featured on a billboard! despite the excitement and the potential of this win, may’s friend, ralph is jealous an......more

Goodreads review by Diana on September 12, 2024

May Li is the top girl at her middle school state chess championship and wins a trophy for her efforts. The recognition brings more publicity, and May begins to place more pressure on herself to live up to the expectations in preparing for the national tournament. However, a jealous friend insists s......more

Goodreads review by Matthew on December 21, 2024

May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao is a wholesome, short, and encouraging read. As someone drawn to chess, I was intrigued by this debut young reader’s book and decided to give it a try. While I typically read non-fiction and occasionally enjoy fantasy or sci-fi, there’s something uniquely refresh......more


Quotes

Praise for May the Best Player Win:
An ALA Feminist Book Project Selection
A Mathical Honor Book


"A middle grade Queen’s Gambit, May The Best Player Win is a realistic story of one girl's love of chess and her journey to rediscovering the love of the game...Utterly believable and inspirational, May's story will have you on the edge of your seat and you itching to play a game of chess!" —Graci Kim, New York Times bestselling author of the Gifted Clans trilogy

"Girls deserve to just have fun! Full of puns and emotions that had me on the edge of my seat, May the Best Player Win is an all-too relatable tale about how girls have to prove themselves over and over in boy-dominated hobbies." —Xiran Jay Zhao, New York Times-bestselling author of Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor

"This book is a game-changer for readers of all ages, regardless of whether you play chess! May the Best Player Win captures the thrill of competition, the weight of expectations, and the sting of naysayers." —Carissa Yip, 2x US Women's Chess Champion & Women's Grandmaster

"Compassionate, empowering, and full of heart, May the Best Player Win reminds young readers that sometimes, the only limits on our potential are the ones we place on ourselves." —Rebecca Mix, New York Times bestselling author of The Mossheart's Promise

"May Li is the type of fierce, loveable, larger-than-life heroine who stays with you long after the story ends. Readers will root for May and her friends from start to finish in their epic journey to nationals!" —Katie Zhao, author of Last Gamer Standing and the Winnie Zeng series

"The chess games are thrilling...and the book’s valuable life lessons will speak to anyone who’s lost their love for a pursuit. An emotionally intelligent work that explores socially relevant themes." —Kirkus Reviews

"Digestible chess strategy breakdowns and terminology scattered throughout serve as an approachable introduction to the sport." —Publishers Weekly

"[Zhao], who is a former competitive chess player, addresses gender bias, self-doubt, and anxiety in this riveting story." —The Week Junior

"A fierce yet tender narrative [that is] rich in emotions and facts... A top recommendation for young readers." —Tatiana Flores, Women's World Chess Champion for People with Disabilities

"A great read for almost any age group! It offers the opportunity to discuss critical issues such as gender and culture... [I] look forward to more books like this by the author!” —Jerry Nash, Chairman of International Chess Federation’s (FIDE) Chess in Education Commission

"Kyla Zhao's novel convincingly portrays chess players and their emotions and makes the reader care about these characters... May the Best Player Win is a winner." —Dr. Alexey Root, 1989 U.S. Women's Chess Champion and author of United States Women's Chess Champions, 1937-2020