The Kings of New York

The Kings of New York chronicles one year in the life of Edward R. Murrow High School's championship chess team in Brooklyn. Author Michael Weinreb follows the team through their 2005-2006 season, documenting their intense training, competitions, and personal struggles. The story centers on math teacher Eliot Weiss, who transformed a casual chess club into one of America's premier high school chess programs. The team consists of students from diverse backgrounds, including International Masters Alex Lenderman and Salvijus Bercys, who dedicate themselves to chess while navigating the challenges of adolescence. The book tracks the team's journey across the United States as they compete in tournaments and defend their reputation as a chess powerhouse. The narrative focuses on key matches, practice sessions, and the dynamics between teammates, coaches, and competitors. Beyond chess, the book examines themes of dedication, identity, and the pursuit of excellence in American education. It explores how specialized programs can create opportunities for students to excel in unexpected ways.

Readers value the book's immersive look into Brooklyn's Edward R. Murrow High School chess team and its diverse group of immigrant students. Reviews highlight Weinreb's ability to make chess matches exciting while exploring themes of education, immigration, and coming-of-age. Liked: - Detail in describing chess strategy and tournament play - Personal stories of team members and their families - Portrait of Brooklyn's immigrant communities - Coach Eliot Weiss's dedication to his students Disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in middle sections - Too many characters to track at times - Chess terminology can be hard to follow for non-players Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (392 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (48 ratings) Sample review: "Weinreb makes you care about these kids beyond their chess victories. Their struggles with family, school, and identity are what stay with you." - Goodreads reviewer

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🎯 Edward R. Murrow's chess team has won more than 30 national championships since the program's inception in 1981. 🏆 Team coach Eliot Weiss taught mathematics for over 35 years while building the chess program from scratch, despite having no formal chess training himself. 📚 Author Michael Weinreb is a Pen/America Literary Award finalist and has written for The New York Times, ESPN, and Rolling Stone. 🌟 Several team members featured in the book went on to become International Masters, including Salvijus Bercys who achieved his title at age 15. 🗽 The school's chess program became known for embracing immigrant students, with many team members coming from former Soviet countries, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe.