Chess Rumble Hardcover – November 8, 2007

I used this book in my 5th grade class to talk about bullying and who you want to be. Excellent topic in a troubled neighborhood. It was an excellent read aloud and discussion book. The kids related to the chess theme which I was able to leverage off of when I got to order of operations in math. I highly suggest this book.

I bought two. Wonderful and in nice condition

I teach in an alternative ed classroom populated by students with brown and black skin and have seen this book embraced by middle and high school students who see themselves in many aspects of Marcus' story. Marcus is acting out in school, angry at the death of his sister and the departure of his father. (One of the most poignant scenes is marcus talking to his father over a cell phone, begging his dad to come home.) A wise principal puts Marcus in touch with the chess club and a mentor, and after many false starts Marcus finds the strength to carry on and restore his relationships with family and friends. The text reads smoothly and is very accessible for struggling readers; the illustrations of the book's urban setting are powerful and add much dimension to the story and strong faces to the characters. If ever adults needed to be reminded that there are strong emotional reasons behind most student misbehavior, this book will do that reminding. But it is more a book in which young teens can see themselves and their loving and imperfect families.

This book was published in 2007 and chosen has a quick pick for reluctant readers by American Library Association (ALA) There was much to love about Chess Rumble. This is Marcus's story told in verse. Marcus is filled with anger, after his sister's death and his dad leaving the family. He wants to fight everyone from his little brothers to his classmates. Latrell used to be Marcus's best friend, now they hate each other. Marcus is a big kid to get under his skin Latrell calls him names like Fat Albert. Marcus gets into a lot of trouble at school and his teacher, Ms. Tate is frustrated. Finally instead of the regular punishment, Ms Tate tries something new, introducing Marcus to CM. CM teaches young men to play chess, so they can fight it out on the board. This wasn't a quick fix, it still took time for Marcus to come around. It's one of the things I loved about Chess Rumble, its seems more realistic that Marcus would be hesitant to trying chess. Neri has created a very believable character in Marcus. Young readers will be able to relate to Marcus, everyone understands anger. Neri's writing is great, he does not waste a word.

Chess Rumble provides a gripping and moving account of an eleven-year old boy's struggles with living in poverty in a single-parent household after the death of his sister. Plagued by feelings of rage and provoked by his younger brothers' antics and the taunts of his classmate, Marcus uses his fists as a coping device. Of course fighting makes his problems worse to the point where he risks getting kicked out of school and having to leave home.His bleak situation changes for the better when the school principal introduces Marcus to a chess master who has a program at the school that encourages troubled youth to fight their battles on the chessboard. Marcus does not take to the chess master or the program right away, but a particularly nasty fight and a visit to his sister's gravesite convince him to give the chess master another chance. Based on real inner-city enrichment programs that teach kids how to play chess, this book shows how a unique social program can help children to develop new skills, meet new people, and begin to overcome disadvantaged economic circumstances. This fast-paced and intriguing book is bound to hold the attention of most young readers as they get a good dose of important lessons in economics, sociology, and social policy.

This book was garbage. The main character spoke and thought in broken English. I guess it was supposed to make the character more authentic and street. And of course like all Donald Goings rip offs there is an ex-convict, an absent father, and single mother of X amount of children (more than she could afford). I was bored, could tell you what happened before I turned the page. I brought the book home because I am trying to ensure my child reads one black author for every non black author they give in him school. Greg Neri will never get business from me again. I heard he wrote a book on Yummy Sandifer, I am not going to read it. I would rather listen to those basement rap songs made about his life that is available on youtube before I touch another Neri book. And in the event he comes across this post let me say this. Our children can read and speak well, you want to dumb down your books for your readers, go write for another ethnicity. We are trying to educate and strengthen our black youth not regress them to the tongues of slaves. Disgraceful. Don't waste your money. And after reading these reviews I think they were written by friends and family.

G. Neri's CHESS RUMBLE is appealing to reluctant readers, especially boys, on a number of levels. Neri nails the voice of a boy growing up in the inner city in a way that's reminiscent of Walter Dean Myers. Neri's main character, Marcus, is a young man dealing with family troubles and fights at school, until he meets a powerful mentor and learns to fight his battles on a chessboard instead.This novella in verse is full of language that's vivid and accessible, and Jesse Joshua Watson's illustrations in shades of black, brown, and gray help to set the mood. This one has serious kid-appeal -- not just for the kids who already love to read but for those who don't often find books on the library shelves that seem to be written for them. This one is.