The hopes of humanity rest on the shoulders of one chess player. It's May 1997 in Manhattan, New York. World champion Garry Kasparov is about to begin a six-game chess match against Deep Blue, the cutting edge IBM supercomputer.

MIND VS MACHINE, a middle-grade graphic novel by ​⁠Steve Sheinkin and Grandmaster Maurice Ashley and illustrated by Thien Pham, offers a unique perspective on one of the most consequential sporting events, if you will, in recent history.

What stood out to me after reading MIND VS MACHINE is how people 20 years ago were asking very similar questions as today. With the pros and cons of AI currently on everyone's mind, MIND VS MACHINE connects the past to the present in a meaningful and fascinating way. The illustrations are expressive, detailed, and help set the tone of the story.

An all-around phenomenal read, in one of my favorite styles of writing, the graphic novel!

Watch my book review to hear more about the story and why I think MIND VS MACHINE is a must-read!

If you love discovering books that stay with you long after you have finished reading, I think this is one you will want to add to your reading list. Out in September 2026

Title: MIND VS MACHINE

Author: Steve Sheinkin and Maurice Ashley

Illustrated by: Thein Pham

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

Book Reviewer: Ethan Minton ‪​⁠

Be sure to subscribe to E Train Talks Books for more book reviews and recommendations!

Please note: This review includes - a few spoilers - some details about the story.

Powered by E Train Talks, Inc. ‪@etraintalks‬

Where Every Child's Journey Begins with a Book.

Readers Make Leaders!

Support E Train Talks Literacy Initiative and give the gift of books to children in underprivileged communities and help open doors to a brighter future: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/4938608

E Train Talks, Inc., is a 501©(3) nonprofit founded and led by Ethan Minton (known as E Train), when he was just 11 years old. Today, Ethan is a 15-year-old award-winning literacy advocate and kindness promoter. E Train Talks is committed to celebrating early literacy and inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children of all ages. Through engaging interviews with children's authors, book reviews, school visits, and literacy-focused events, E Train Talks Literacy Initiative sparks curiosity and encourages children to discover the magic of reading. By championing diverse voices and stories, Ethan not only supports language development and comprehension skills but also helps children build empathy, confidence, and a strong educational foundation. Follow Ethan's journey at at: www.etraintalks.org

WELCOME TO 5 YEARS OF E TRAIN: Celebrating the World of Books!

To kick off the celebration, I’m sharing my interview with award-winning children’s author and playwright @erindealey3097!

Erin Dealey is a wonderful human and an incredibly talented storyteller. She has written more than 20 picture books filled with humor, heart, creativity, and stories that really connect with readers.

I was so happy to have Erin join me for a fun and meaningful conversation about her journey as an author, where her ideas come from, and what goes into creating a picture book. Erin also shares some great stories about her writing process and how her books make their way from an idea to the finished story we get to read.

Some of Erin’s many books include DEAR EARTH...FROM YOUR FRIENDS IN ROOM 5, SNOW GLOBE WISHES, BABIES COME FROM AIRPORTS, JUST FLOWERS, SQUIRREL DRAWS BIG FEELINGS, GOLDIE LOCKS HAS CHICKEN POX, and many more!

Erin has also been a huge supporter of my literacy journey over the years. She is someone who truly celebrates authors, readers, educators, and the children’s book community as a whole, and I’m really grateful to have her as part of the E Train journey.

Watch my interview with Erin to learn more about her books, her writing journey, and the stories behind the stories! You can also discover more of Erin's picture books on her website at: https://erindealey.com/

Be sure to like and subscribe to E Train Talks Books for access to more interviews, book reviews and recommendations!

Powered by E Train Talks, Inc. ‪​⁠ Where Every Child's Journey Begins with a Book.

Readers Make Leaders!

Support E Train Talks Literacy Initiative and give the gift of books to children in underprivileged communities and help open doors to a brighter future: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/4938608

E Train Talks, Inc., is a 501©(3) nonprofit founded and led by Ethan (known as E Train), a 15-year-old award-winning literacy advocate and Giving Tuesday teen leader. E Train is committed to celebrating early literacy and inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children of all ages. Through engaging interviews with children's authors, book reviews, school visits, and literacy-focused events, E Train sparks curiosity and encourages children to discover the magic of reading. By championing diverse voices and stories, E Train not only supports language development and comprehension skills but also helps children build empathy, confidence, and a strong educational foundation.

With Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY now in theaters, I’m going back to the legendary story that started it all, but this time in graphic novel form!

In this E Train Talks Books review, I’m taking a look at THE ODYSSEY: A GRAPHIC NOVEL: DELUXE EDITION, written and illustrated by ​⁠ Gareth Hinds and published by ​⁠.

Hinds transforms Homer’s ancient Greek epic into an exciting and understandable visual adventure filled with gods, monsters, danger, and unforgettable challenges. From Poseidon and Circe to Scylla and Charybdis, this graphic novel brings Odysseus’s legendary journey home to life for all types of readers!

The illustrations are incredible, the mythology is all here, and Percy Jackson fans should definitely check this one out! 5 STARS! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Be sure to subscribe to E Train Talks Books for more book reviews and recommendations!

Please note: This review includes - a few spoilers - some details about the story.

Powered by E Train Talks, Inc. ​⁠

Where Every Child's Journey Begins with a Book.

Readers Make Leaders!

Support E Train Talks Literacy Initiative and give the gift of books to children in underprivileged communities and help open doors to a brighter future: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/4938608

E Train Talks, Inc., is a 501©(3) nonprofit founded and led by Ethan (known as E Train), a 15-year-old award-winning literacy advocate and Giving Tuesday teen leader. E Train is committed to celebrating early literacy and inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children of all ages. Through engaging interviews with children's authors, book reviews, school visits, and literacy-focused events, E Train sparks curiosity and encourages children to discover the magic of reading. By championing diverse voices and stories, E Train not only supports language development and comprehension skills but also helps children build empathy, confidence, and a strong educational foundation. Follow my journey at at: www.etraintalks.org