Adventures of a Chess Girl
A memoir of brilliance, passion, and the cost of staying in the game
From childhood refuge to elite competition—one woman's intimate journey through the captivating world of chess.
A memoir of brilliance, passion, and the cost of staying in the game
From childhood refuge to elite competition—one woman's intimate journey through the captivating world of chess.
It's always interesting to dive into young chess players' experiences over the board, especially players like Katie! The book offers a window into the often untold stories of young chess players and the relationships that shape them beyond competition. Her passion for the game shines through on every page! I'm so proud of Katie's work as an author and a chess player, and am excited to see how her voice and perspective continue to grow in future projects.
Co-Founder of Chess.com and author of Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life
This book offers a captivating behind-the-scenes look at a seemingly ordinary board game through the eyes of Katie, a young and adventurous player. With a creative storytelling style, she blends the world of chess with real-life experiences, revealing thoughtful insights and meaningful lessons along the way. Her journey through early adulthood, marked by curiosity, resilience, and drive, is both inspiring and deeply relatable.
Woman Grandmaster and youngest US Olympiad Chess Team Member
Katie Kormanik's writing is bold and personal, taking you on an intimate tour through her memories. The thoughts and emotions preserved by journal entries and text messages make for an authentic, engaging read that's sometimes uncomfortable but always frank. Besides sharing her story, Kormanik depicts the chess world and its eccentric but brilliant members in ways that will keep you invested even if you know little about the game. I'm a casual player with a single (poor) tournament run under my belt, but I could still relate to the feeling of getting really into a match and facing the joys and sorrows of competition. I also enjoyed reading about the shifting role of chess in the author's life throughout the years, according to her circumstances. Overall, I recommend Adventures of a Chess Girl to anyone, chess fan or not, looking for a good memoir.
Readers' Favorite
The world within the black and white squares can be confounding and exhilarating. As a young girl, that's the world in which Katie found refuge from her parents' constant fighting and mean kids at school.
By her early twenties, Katie had largely left chess behind. When she was asked to compete on her college chess team at the Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championships, she thought it would be her final tournament.
But chess drew her back in. She soon found herself immersed in the world that revolved around the board. The brilliance. The drinking. The glamor. She was hooked.
As she rose to become one of the top 100 women chess players in the nation, she became more and more integrated into the chess world. But staying there came at a cost—which, despite her love of the game, she wasn't sure she could pay.
Katie's deeply personal memoir provides a rare window into the insular world of elite chess as seen through a woman's eyes, while sharing the intimate details of her coming-of-age journey on and off the board.
