Nothing has gone right for Lawrence since he had to move with his mother and little sister from Charlotte to Larenville, North Carolina to live with his granny. When he ends up in one too many fights at his new school, he gets expelled. The fight wasn’t his fault, but since his father has been gone, it feels like no one listens to what Lawrence has to say. When his grandmother arranges for him to spend his days at the local recreation center run by her neighbor, an older man named Mr. Dennis, Lawrence is able to finish his school work online. There he meets Deuce, a popular boy that doesn’t seem to like him, and Twyla, a girl who is one of the very best players in the chess program that Mr. Dennis runs at the center. Lawrence doesn’t know anything about chess, but is encouraged by Twyla and Mr. Dennis to give it a try. It is definitely a mind game and challenges his to harness his anger and energy for good. When he learns that some of the kids in the program will be picked to compete in a tournament in Charlotte, Lawrence becomes determined to get good enough to be chosen and have a chance to return home. Can Lawrence manage to harness his emotions and improve his game, turning his life around with the help of new friends even though the odds are stacked against him? A coming of age story that celebrates overcoming obstacles with hard work, determination, and the support of some unlikely new friends.