In a small Tennessee town, a mysterious woman with a chessboard has long intrigued the locals. When she unexpectedly appears at the school's Valentine's Day community luncheon, the third graders, especially Justin, are captivated and ask her to teach them the game. Struggling with her undisclosed past, she hesitates. But as the children's curiosity grows, she realizes that the part of her life she thought was lost is closer than she ever imagined.

In the classic tradition of Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, Strega Nona, An Angel for Solomon Singer, & Miss Rumphius, this book highlights intergenerational relationships, respect, and empathy.