{"product_id":"the-queen-of-katwe-one-girls-triumphant-path-to-becoming-a-chess-champion-9781501127182","title":"The Queen of Katwe: One Girl's Triumphant Path to Becoming a Chess Champion","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe Queen of Katwe: An Inspirational True Story of Chess and Triumph\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow a major motion picture starring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo, directed by Mira Nair, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Queen of Katwe\u003c\/strong\u003e tells the remarkable true story of Phiona Mutesi—a teenage chess prodigy who rose from the slums of Uganda to become her country's first female titled chess player.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrom the Slums to Chess Champion\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2005, nine-year-old Phiona Mutesi was searching for food in the Katwe slum when she followed her brother to a dusty veranda. There she met Robert Katende, a war refugee turned missionary with an extraordinary vision: to empower impoverished children through chess—a game so foreign to the community that no word for it existed in their native language.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat began as children gathering for a free bowl of porridge transformed into a life-changing journey. Phiona quickly distinguished herself as an immense talent on the chessboard. By age eleven, she became Uganda's junior champion. At fifteen, she claimed the national championship title. Today, as a Woman Candidate Master, Phiona holds the distinction of being the first female titled player in Uganda's history, with aspirations of achieving Grandmaster status—the highest level in competitive chess.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eA Story That Transcends the Chessboard\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWritten by former \u003cem\u003eSports Illustrated\u003c\/em\u003e senior writer Tim Crothers, this biography captures more than chess strategy and tournament victories. It reveals how Phiona navigates daily life in one of the world's most unstable countries while pursuing her dreams. Like the game she masters, Phiona's journey requires persevering against overwhelming obstacles—poverty, instability, and limited resources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book has earned widespread critical acclaim, described as \"astonishing\" by \u003cem\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/em\u003e, \"inspirational\" by \u003cem\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/em\u003e, \"remarkable\" by NPR, and \"riveting\" by the \u003cem\u003eNew York Post\u003c\/em\u003e. US Grandmaster Robert Hess notes that \"Phiona's story transcends the limitations of the chessboard,\" making this biography essential reading for anyone interested in stories of human resilience and determination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePerfect For Readers Who Love\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis paperback edition appeals to readers seeking authentic stories of female empowerment, sports achievement against the odds, and African narratives of triumph. Whether you're a chess enthusiast, biography reader, or someone drawn to inspirational true stories, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Queen of Katwe\u003c\/strong\u003e delivers a powerful account of one girl's extraordinary path from poverty to international recognition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTim Crothers\u003c\/strong\u003e is a former senior writer at \u003cem\u003eSports Illustrated\u003c\/em\u003e. He is the author of \u003cem\u003eThe Queen of Katwe: One Girl's Triumphant Path to Becoming a Chess Champion\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Man Watching\u003c\/em\u003e, the biography of University of North Carolina women's soccer coach Anson Dorrance, and coauthor of \u003cem\u003eHard Work\u003c\/em\u003e, the autobiography of UNC basketball coach Roy Williams. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with his wife and two children.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Scribner Book Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50681023856914,"sku":"9781501127182","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_964395f6-0853-4791-a2ef-e6962339a019.jpg?v=1733947771","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-queen-of-katwe-one-girls-triumphant-path-to-becoming-a-chess-champion-9781501127182","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}