Review: Elsa's Chessboard

Elsa's Chessboard

by Jenny Andrus, illustrated by Julie Downing

Neal Porter Books (imprint of Holiday House), 2025

Category: Picture Books    

Reviewer: Linda Elovitz Marshall

 

Buy at Bookshop.org

Inspired by a true-life experience, Elsa's Chessboard is the heartwarming story of Elsa, a young girl in Vienna who dreams of playing chess and, for her tenth birthday, receives a boxed chessboard with carved pieces from her family. Growing up, she meets someone who shares her love of chess. Edward and Elsa marry, have a baby, and continue to play chess. But trouble is brewing in Europe and, as Jews, they must flee. They begin a new life in San Francisco where playing chess helps them make new friends because they share a common language: the language of chess. But time passes, Edward dies and Elsa moves. In the move, the beloved chessboard somehow disappears. Elsa, now a grandmother, plays games with her grandchildren. Lots of games, but never chess. A new chessboard is purchased for her, but it's not the same. And then, years later, when Elsa's great-grandson is stacking dusty old boxes in the garage...What a happy ending to a beautiful story. Exquisite illustrations by Julie Downing vividly portray the journey of Elsa and her chessboard, charmingly bringing this well-told story to life. Elsa's Chessboard is a tale to be read again...and again.

Elsa and her family are beautiful and lovable in a wholesome, old-fashioned way. On page 6, when readers see the family having Shabbat dinner with candlesticks and challah, it is clear that Elsa and her family are Jewish. Indeed, being Jewish is normal, part of everyday life. That is, until page 11, when antisemitic graffiti appear on the walls of a store. Then, the reader learns that "A terrible war began. Because Elsa and Edmund were Jewish, they needed to escape in a hurry." They leave for San Francisco - taking only what's most important - and begin a new life. After that, there is no more mention or indication of anything Jewish until, on page 21, the reader sees a menorah in the window and Elsa plays dreidel with her grandchildren.

Is this a Jewish book? For this somewhat secular Jewish reader, it definitely is a Jewish book. It's also a story of loss and hope and being brought together through chess...and memories. As such, it is a book that Jewish and non-Jewish readers will take to heart...and love. This is a book that speaks to the human experience, a book that belongs on all shelves.

 

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Reviewer Linda Elovitz Marshall is an award-winning author of more than two dozen fiction and non-fiction picture books. She studied cultural anthropology at Barnard College/Columbia University. After living on a farm, raising four children and a small flock of sheep, then pursuing a Ph.D. in anthropology, and owning a bookstore, Linda began writing for children. Her Jewish-themed books include THE POLIO PIONEER: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine, GOOD NIGHT, WIND, The MEXICAN DREIDEL (with Ilan Stavans) and BRAVE VOLODYMYR: THE STORY OF VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY AND THE FIGHT FOR UKRAINE with illustrations by Ukrainian artist Grasya Oliyko (HarperCollins).: www.lindamarshall.com