Sheinkin, Steve. Mind vs. Machine: The Chess Match that Changed the World. Thien Pham, Illus. Addl. Creator Maurice Ashley. Roaring Brook, 09/2026. 240pp. Graphic. PLB $22.99. 978-1-250-33477-0. Paper $14.99. 978-1-250-33476-3. GRADES 4–9. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
For over a thousand years chess has been seen as the ultimate test of human intelligence, which is why the 1997 contest between Chess Grandmaster Gary Kasparov and the IBM computer Deep Blue drew worldwide attention. With the help of a contemporary commentator, Maurice Ashley, the first African-American Grandmaster, Sheinkin narrates the match, providing history and context while raising questions we face today:can machines think, and what happens if human-created machines surpass their human creators? Stylistically simple, the deeply colored digital-art cartoons contain loads of detail. Plenty of active sporting comparisons complement the cinematic pacing and exemplary research. The racial and ethnic diversity of the chess and artificial intelligence participants make clear the worldwide connection and impact. A thought-provoking history for those interested in artificial intelligence, chess, and big philosophical questions. Back matter includes both authors’ notes. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired