From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up—Popular young adult authors, including Alex Flinn, K. L. Going, and Walter Sorrells, contributed to this fast-paced compilation of stories about teenage encounters with poker. The characters find themselves in high-stakes situations: playing with the Devil, competing in a scholarship game, fighting to defeat a deadbeat stepdad, and staying one step ahead of an Internet poker company. The authors depict a variety of endings from the thrill of winning newfound respect to the consequences of losing a girlfriend. At the same time, each story interweaves the elements of both strategy and luck as the players compete in what is ultimately a game of chance. The stories vary from the eerily realistic to amusingly far-fetched. In all cases, teen poker players will recognize themselves and their opponents in this diverse collection. A glossary and brief description of the poker hands will help readers who are new to the game. However, some stories are so saturated with jargon that only experienced players will be able to appreciate the pace and tension in them. The popularity of the game among teens will make this collection a surefire hit with its many fans. Suggest it to teens who have enjoyed Hautman's other poker novels such as
All-In (2007) and
The Prop (2006, both S & S).—
Lynn Rashid, Marriots Ridge High School, Marriotsville, MD Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Hautman deals a winning hand with this entertaining collection of short stories about poker, a game soaring in popularity among teens. Ten talented authors who play the popular American game explore its many aspects. K. L. Going's subtle opening tale presents a young man who underestimates both the game of poker and the game of life; Adam Stemple offers a new twist on the old story about trying to outwit the devil; and in a tale laced with street slang, Bill Fitzhugh depicts poker as a tool for vengeance. The nicely balanced collection, which ranges from the light humor of a girl debating about whether to win a heart or a hand to a cautionary selection about poker's addictive potential, is a sure bet for teens familiar with the game. For those who aren't, a glossary of terms and ranking of poker hands will help. Ante up for this full house of good stories, and then lead readers to Hautman's novels about poker player Denn Doyle, Stone Cold (1998) and All-In (2007). Rutan, Lynn
