Check Mates

Book excerpt: WINNER OF THE UKLA BOOK AWARDS 2021 'Funny and heartfelt with a cunning twist. Stewart Foster is a grandmaster' – ROSS WELFORD 'An inspirational underdog story and a chilling mystery! A winning combination' – DAVID SOLOMONS Some people think that I’m a problem child, that I’m lazy and never pay attention in lessons. But the thing is, I’m not a problem child at all. I’m just a child with a problem. Felix is struggling at school. His ADHD makes it hard for him to concentrate and his grades are slipping. Everyone keeps telling him to try harder, but no one seems to understand just how hard he finds it. When Mum suggests Felix spends time with his grandfather, Felix can’t think of anything worse. Granddad hasn’t been the same since Grandma died. Plus he’s always trying to teach Felix boring chess. But sometimes the best lessons come in the most unexpected of places, and Granddad soon shows Felix that there’s everything to play for. Praise for ALL THE THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG 'A moving, humane, funny portrait of two very different boys discovering what connects us all.' Kiran Milwood Hargrave, author ofThe Girl of Ink and Stars ‘It’s amazing!’ Ross Welford, author of Time Travelling with a Hamster 'I loved it.' Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy 'A touching, funny, gripping read that tackles important issues in a sensitive and thoroughly enjoyable way. Highly recommended.' Stuart Robinson, author of If Ever I Fall 'A timely story of courage and reminder of what we all share.' Christopher Edge, author ofThe Many Worlds of Albie Bright 'Powerful and warm ... this will linger long in the mind.' Guardian Praise for THE BUBBLE BOY, winner of the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award in 2016 ‘Poignant, hopeful and heartbreaking.’ Fiona Noble – Children’s Editor, The Bookseller 'Deeply moving and utterly gripping . . . Stewart Foster carries off an astonishing feat of storytelling in this exceptional book' Julia Eccleshare, lovereading.co.uk ‘A gripping and deeply moving book.’ Jamila Gavin, author of Coram Boy 'One thing we know about good books is their amazing ability to inspire empathy in the reader; to explore ideas and viewpoints that arise from experiences that are out of our own realm. The Bubble Boy does this with warmth, quirkiness and a light-hearted touch.' Guardian