No Limit [Library Binding]

Pete Hautman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2005

A teen develops a gambling addiction in this risk-heavy read—in trade paperback for the first time.Sixteen-year-old Denn Doyle’s troubles begin with a seemingly harmless—and extremely profitable—game of poker with some neighborhood kids. Eager to join the adult world, Denn realizes that casinos and poker are a means to do exactly that. His “hobby” progresses to a habit and then to an addiction that threatens relationships with his parents, girlfriend, and best friend. Hautman explores the escalation of Denn’s gambling without preachiness, dealing with his problem in a straightforward and knowledgeable manner.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Fast paced and powerfully delivered, this novel is as taut and suspenseful as a high-stakes game.”—School Library Journal

“Hautman’s anatomy of a teen addict is chillingly intensified by Denn’s narration…watch even reluctant readers ante up.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Swift and salacious, Hautman’s latest compellingly echoes gambling’s siren call.”—Publishers Weekly

“A compelling read.”—KLIATT --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Pete Hautman won the National Book Award for Godless. He is also the author of Blank Confession, Rash, Invisible, and Sweetblood, in addition to several adult novels. Pete lives in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Visit him at PeteHautman.com. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Library Binding
• Publisher: Turtleback Books (May 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1417725435
• ISBN-13: 978-1417725434
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,045,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Okay, here's some miscellaneous personal info. I'll try to be as brief as possible. I was born in 1952 in Berkeley, California, or so I am told (I don't really remember). At age five I moved to St. Louis Park, Minnesota where I went to Cedar Manor Elementary School (also the alma mater of Al Franken and the Coen brothers, and no, they are not close personal friends of mine) and eventually graduated honor-free from St. Louis Park High School. This is so tedious. Why do you keep reading? For the next seven years I attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and the University of Minnesota. Contrary to recent news reports, I did not graduate from either institution. After college I worked various jobs for which I was ill-suited, including sign painter, graphic artist, marketing executive, pineapple slicer, etc. Eventually, having exhausted other options, I decided to write. My first novel, Drawing Dead, was published in 1993. Today, I live with mystery writer and poet Mary Logue in Golden Valley, Minnesota and Stockholm, Wisconsin. We have two small dogs (are you still reading?) named Rene and Jacques. There you have it. Fifty-plus years compressed into a few short paragraphs. Feel free to copy and paste for your book report, but don't tell anybody I suggested it. Need to know more? Check out the FAQs page on my website at http://www.petehautman.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A really good book about gambling, September 13, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: No Limit (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is about your average sixteen-year-old, who owns his own landscaping business, and isn't quite sure he wants to return to school for twelfth grade. His name is Dennis Doyle. When some buddies of his want to play poker, he half-heartedly says yes. Then, something really, really bad happens; he wins. After that, Dennis is hooked on this game, full of luck and strategy. Winning game after game after game, Dennis seems to have it all. But there are some surprises around the corner that even Dennis, with all his money, may not be able to face.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A royal flush of a read, January 8, 2006

By 

Lady McTeach "Regent of Reading" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Limit (Mass Market Paperback)

I found No Limit to be disturbingly real. Hautman does a great job of showing a how a young man changes from earning money by mowing lawns to professional gambling.

"This the part where you maybe think I'm going to tell you that I lost all my money. It could have happened that way. Sometimes I wish it had." That quote haunted me throughout my reading of the book. I could not put it down. I cheered when Doyle lost. I grieved when he won.

A mature reader will recognize what gambling cost Doyle, an immature reader will not.

The characters are realistic, the effort to alert Doyle to the consequences of his actions are superbly done. I felt I knew Doyle. I have live near gambling establishments of one sort or another most of my life and have seen first hand what can happen.

This was a real story. I am looking forward to the sequel. Thanks Pete for a great book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This one did not hit the spot, November 4, 2006

By 

John R. Linnell (New Gloucester, ME United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: No Limit (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm a big fan of this author, but this book just didn't cut it for me. There is nothing in the material about the book that indicates it is written for the youth market, but it certainly seems as though that is the case. A rather simple story, quite briefly, but not badly told. It warns about addiction, which I belive the author has had to deal with in his life. In any event, I was disappointed. You will have to make your own judgment.