"Check. Mate?" Review

   Out of all of the narratives we have been reading in class, Check. Mate? by Miles Pequeno, seems the most prompting. Personally, when a teacher assigns an essay I can never come up with a topic. I feel like picking your topic is the most frustrating part of the whole process, especially when the topic is very vague. Most students try to choose a topic that is life changing or significant to their life in some way. This is not always the way to go. Check. Mate? uses a mild topic as an symbol to a bigger event. This is a brilliant way to intrigue readers without overpowering them.
    Check. Mate? focuses mainly on the game chess. The author uses chess to describe his relationship with his father, and how he grows up because of it. The author uses many different strategies to entertain the reader while still keeping with the theme. He uses vivid detail when describing scenery or characters. This gives the reader a sense of what the narrator's life was like. Pequeno also uses suspense to pull the reader in. The analogy between chess and the main character's life is very impressive. When the narrator finally beats his father in a game of chess, it signifies his growing up and becoming more mature. The author ends the essay with a moral that conveys the meaning and purpose of the writing. This essay will definitely help me when I begin writing my personal narrative.