THIS is a marvellous piece of reporting from writer Michael Weinreb on the subject of chess. But it is not just a book about the game. It revolves around the unexpected events and extraordinary talents of a group of youngsters attending the Edward R Murr

THIS is a marvellous piece of reporting from writer Michael Weinreb on the subject of chess.

But it is not just a book about the game.

It revolves around the unexpected events and extraordinary talents of a group of youngsters attending the Edward R Murrow High School in Brooklyn.

To say the least, it is a run- down school, and the prospects of the students seem limited.

But for some reason it produced for several years the national chess team champions.

Weinreb's year-in-the-life of the students captures all the emotion and drama of a game which is too often seen as one being played by the elite.