Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson. 320 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., October 5, 2021. 9781338348538. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Monday! I hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather we had this weekend. I took Boo on some long walks down by the reservoir. I also did some garden clean-up and laundry. 

Middle Grade Monday features Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson. Ten-year-old Anthony Arnold Joplin, Ant for short, but please don't call him short, even though he is, is super-excited about the upcoming Spades tournament. He needs to live down his poor showing last year and live up to the Joplin name, as his brother won two years in a row and he wants to make his father and grandfather proud. His best friend and Spades partner, Jamal has been a bit on edge, quick with the trash talk and distant. When Jamal viciously teases Ant about his height in front of Shirley, the new girl at school, Ant starts to question their friendship. Then, it turns out, Shirley is an ace Spades player! And, she's cute too! Ant's friendship troubles aren't the only thing bugging him. His dad has been acting a bit weird lately.

This story features a winning main character, terrific secondary characters and lots of humor and depth. I should've finished this terrific novel a lot sooner, but school started and ate up my energy. I just loved this one. I am terrible at cards and still have no idea how to play Spades, but I adored Ant's devotion to the game through the family dynamics and the middle school dialogue were all spot-on. Ant is such an appealing main character. Growing up is hard and Varian Johnson depicts this with so much respect and authenticity. 

Playing the Cards You're Dealt is due out on October 5. You can sample some of Mr. Johnson's other books, including The Parker Inheritance, which won a Coretta Scott King Honor and his debut graphic novel,Twins while you wait.

Friday Memes: Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson. 320 p. Scholastic Press, October 5, 2021. 9781338780949.

Publisher synopsis: SECRETS ARE ALWAYS A GAMBLE

Ten-year-old Anthony Joplin has made it to double digits! Which means he’s finally big enough to play in the spades tournament every Joplin Man before him seems to have won. So while Ant’s friends are stressing about fifth grade homework and girls, he only has one thing on his mind: how he’ll measure up to his father’s expectations at the card table.

Then Ant’s best friend gets grounded, and he’s forced to find another spades partner. And Shirley, the new girl in his class, isn’t exactly what he has in mind. She doesn’t understand that trash talking is part of the game. Or why Ant’s dad doesn’t want him playing with a girl. But she’s smart and tough and pretty, and knows every card trick in the book. So Ant decides to join forces with Shirley — and keep his plans a secret.

Only it turns out secrets are another Joplin Man tradition. And his father is hiding one so big it may tear their family apart…

First Line: The house always wins.

Page 56: Jamal cackled, "little Ant, still scared to talk to girls."

     "What's with you and all the little stuff," And said. "Lay off, okay?"

     "Come on, Ant. It's just a joke. Don't be so sensitive."

     Ant couldn't help but notice how it was "just a joke" when Jamal said stuff, but Shirley was a "dumb girl" when she did the same.

How much do you love that cover? I am mesmerized!