Fifth grader Anthony—aka Ant—wants his dad to be as proud of him as he is of Ant’s older brother, Aaron, the reigning teen champion of their neighborhood Spades tournament. Intent on winning, African American Ant practices as much as he can with his best friend and partner, Jamal. But when they play during recess at the start of the school year, Ant discovers a serious challenger in new student Shirley. At home, Ant’s dad has been unpredictable lately, going from overly upbeat about his business prospects to stressed out. He promise to help Ant practice, then forgets and comes home hours late. Aaron, away at boarding school, tells Ant to watch for signs that their dad is drinking. Ant knows their dad was in rehab when Ant was a baby, but he isn’t comfortable spying and says nothing when he does find evidence of drinking, and online gambling, too. Ant puts his heart and his hopes into winning the tournament, convinced it’s the key to turning around things for and with his dad. When Jamal is grounded, Ant partners with Shirley, even though some kids think he shouldn’t play with a girl. Ant discovers Shirley is not only a great player, she’s a great friend—something he’s not so sure Jamal is anymore. The weight of Ant’s emotions and his family’s struggles are balanced by the liveliness and buoyancy of Ant and the Black community that surrounds him, while the animated narration provides light-hearted comic relief. (Ages 8-12)

“With a deft hand, Johnson shows us there's no such thing as "too young" when it comes to questioning big ideas like manhood, or even family.” –Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Look Both Ways and Stamped

Literary powerhouse and Coretta Scott King Honor- and Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor-winning author of The Parker Inheritance Varian Johnson explores themes of toxic masculinity and family legacy in this heartfelt, hopeful story of one boy discovering what it really means to be a man.

SECRETS ARE ALWAYS A GAMBLE

Ten-year-old Anthony Joplin has made it to double digits! Which means he's finally old 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, Ant 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 who he has in mind. She talks a whole lot of trash -- way more than his old partner. Plus, he's not sure that his father wants 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...