Best Fiction 2022 Indie Reader Discovery Awards

Kirkus Best Indie Books 2022

"Eye-opening and engaging; a triumphant mashup of underdog sporting contest and teen drama." - Kirkus Reviews

"A YA masterpiece that belongs on every teen's smartphone-an instant classic." - IndieReader

Class struggle. On the street and over the board.

Urban high school kid Moses Middleton hoped that chess competition could be a ticket out of mediocrity, but everything goes pear-shaped after a disastrous tournament. That's when he meets Viktor, a mad Russian grandmaster who agrees to coach the team by revealing the secrets of Soviet chess.

Together with his crew -- charismatic psychopath P.D. Morales, gifted violinist and expert fencer Esther Toussaint, shy anime fan Maggie Wang, and the new boy, Albanian chess wizard Zamir Hoxha -- Moses vows to take the world of New York City scholastic chess by storm. But trouble's on the way, in the form of neighborhood bullies, a vengeful vice principal, racist gentrifiers, the snooty rich kids from Galton Prep, and, worst of all, a sexual predator who could destroy a young woman's life and the team's newfound solidarity.

Perfect for young fans of The Queen's Gambit, this "YA masterpiece" (Indie Reader) combines humor, drama, and social insight.

Praise from Amazon and Goodreads reviewers:

★★★★★ Fabulous read. This has it all: Great characters, witty dialogue, wonderful ending. It's brilliant.
★★★★★ The universe of PUSHING PAWNS is one I'd like to inhabit, with characters I'd love to befriend.
★★★★★ Touching, real and yet hopeful in these anxious dark times, and beautifully written.
★★★★★ Readers will find themselves cheering the chess club on through their triumphs.
★★★★★ A story of friendship, challenges, teamwork, and loyalty. It is a high-quality YA read.