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1. Bibliographic Information
Hautman, P. (Ed.). (2007). Full house : 10 stories about poker. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
ISBN: 978-0-399-24528-2
161 pages
2. Plot Summary
Full House is a collection of 10 short stories each having to do with poker. The first story, “Poker for the Complete Idiot” by K.L. Going is about a young boy who visits his lower-class girlfriend’s family to play poker. Scared about how the family will view him, Dale plans on bluffing his way through the night. In “Positively Cheat Street” by Francine Pascal, a young girl must decide what to do when she notices that one of the players is cheating. “Dealing with the Devil” by Adam Stemple reads more like a oral history about playing poker. “The Cards that are Hidden” by Alex Flinn is the story about a young girl who must come to terms with her mother’s boyfriend and his addictions. “Sportin’ Men” by Gary Phillips looks at how poker can be a front for more devious activities. “The Royal Couple” by Mary Logue shows the possible sacrifices players make when they play poker against people they care about. “Fiddy Dolla Smile” by Bill Fitzhugh looks at how two boys con a bully in a local house game. “Suicide King” by Walter Sorrells is somewhat a retelling of the “Boy Who Cried Wolf” story. “The Scholarship Game” by Pete Hautman is a story about a group of boys from a small town who play in a poker scholarship game, when Adrian confronts Tom about coaching him during the game, can Tom win the money? Lastly, Will Weaver’s “Up the River” looks at the current cheating issues that occur in online poker games. Each story includes a short biography of the author. The editor has also inserted a page about poker hand rankings as well as a glossary of terms.
3. Critical Evaluation
This collection of short stories about poker might initially deter readers who feel uncomfortable with Poker. However, each author did an excellent job weaving poker jargon, strategy, and rules throughout their narratives. In fact, many of the short stories used poker as a catalyst to emphasize a different if not entirely unrelated problem. Many authors make the comparison that poker is like life: black and white. There is no way you can change the rules. While an element of luck is inevitable, players must use their skills against other players as well as what they are dealt in order to determine their next move. This is where the authors of each story succeed. Some authors use this knowledge to show the underbelly of the game as well as the successes it can create. Ultimately, each story allows the reader in some way to relate to a character. Every teen has felt the need to uphold the rules when someone is cheating, to want to cheat, to want to be a part of something bigger than their daily lives, and finally to want recognition. Most of the stories are realistic, and all are entertaining.
4. Reader’s Annotation
Full House: 10 Stories about Poker chronicles the successes and pitfalls in a game that heavily relies on skill and some luck. Follow the lives of teenagers as some learn, others make mistakes, and few succeed in the unrelenting game of Poker.
5. Information about the author
Pete Hautman is a young adult novelist who has also written Rash, Invisible and Godless. He lives in Minnesota with his partner and fellow author, Mary Logue. He has been playing poker since he was 8 (Hautman, 2007, p 140).
6. Genre
Short Stories
7. Curriculum Ties
I would encourage students to read this collection of stories for an outside reading book in an English class.
8. Booktalking Ideas
-How do the authors use Poker to emphasize real-life problems?
-Do you agree with the editor that poker is mostly a game of skill with a little luck?
9. Reading Level/ Interest Age
Though some of the stories have an advanced writing style and more adult themes, I think that this collection of short stories would mostly appeal to 15-17 year olds.
10. Challenge Issues
The story, “The Cards That Are Hidden,” by Alex Flinn looks at how poker can lead to addiction and even abuse (2007).
The story, “Fiddy Dolla Smile” by Bill Fitzhugh includes offensive language including racial slurs (2007).
The story, “Suicide King” by Walter Sorrells looks at mental illness (2007).
Taken separately, there are instances that could cause some concern; however, by looking at the aspects of these stories instead of the overall picture, some readers will have a skewed view of the authors and their contributions. If a challenge arose I would encourage that person to read the short stories in their entirety before passing judgment. If a person still wished to challenge this book I would refer he or she to the ALA’s challenge form found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
11. Why was it selected?
I wanted to include an example of short stories in my blog, and I thought that a book about poker might be interesting to teens.
12. Citations
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Hautman, P. (Ed.). (2007). Full house : 10 stories about poker. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
Picture
Amazon.com. (2010). Full house: 10 stories about Poker (Hardcover). Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Full-House-Stories-About-Poker/dp/0399245286/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270058965&sr=1-1
Hautman, P. (Ed.). (2007). Full house : 10 stories about poker. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
ISBN: 978-0-399-24528-2
161 pages
2. Plot Summary
Full House is a collection of 10 short stories each having to do with poker. The first story, “Poker for the Complete Idiot” by K.L. Going is about a young boy who visits his lower-class girlfriend’s family to play poker. Scared about how the family will view him, Dale plans on bluffing his way through the night. In “Positively Cheat Street” by Francine Pascal, a young girl must decide what to do when she notices that one of the players is cheating. “Dealing with the Devil” by Adam Stemple reads more like a oral history about playing poker. “The Cards that are Hidden” by Alex Flinn is the story about a young girl who must come to terms with her mother’s boyfriend and his addictions. “Sportin’ Men” by Gary Phillips looks at how poker can be a front for more devious activities. “The Royal Couple” by Mary Logue shows the possible sacrifices players make when they play poker against people they care about. “Fiddy Dolla Smile” by Bill Fitzhugh looks at how two boys con a bully in a local house game. “Suicide King” by Walter Sorrells is somewhat a retelling of the “Boy Who Cried Wolf” story. “The Scholarship Game” by Pete Hautman is a story about a group of boys from a small town who play in a poker scholarship game, when Adrian confronts Tom about coaching him during the game, can Tom win the money? Lastly, Will Weaver’s “Up the River” looks at the current cheating issues that occur in online poker games. Each story includes a short biography of the author. The editor has also inserted a page about poker hand rankings as well as a glossary of terms.
3. Critical Evaluation
This collection of short stories about poker might initially deter readers who feel uncomfortable with Poker. However, each author did an excellent job weaving poker jargon, strategy, and rules throughout their narratives. In fact, many of the short stories used poker as a catalyst to emphasize a different if not entirely unrelated problem. Many authors make the comparison that poker is like life: black and white. There is no way you can change the rules. While an element of luck is inevitable, players must use their skills against other players as well as what they are dealt in order to determine their next move. This is where the authors of each story succeed. Some authors use this knowledge to show the underbelly of the game as well as the successes it can create. Ultimately, each story allows the reader in some way to relate to a character. Every teen has felt the need to uphold the rules when someone is cheating, to want to cheat, to want to be a part of something bigger than their daily lives, and finally to want recognition. Most of the stories are realistic, and all are entertaining.
4. Reader’s Annotation
Full House: 10 Stories about Poker chronicles the successes and pitfalls in a game that heavily relies on skill and some luck. Follow the lives of teenagers as some learn, others make mistakes, and few succeed in the unrelenting game of Poker.
5. Information about the author
Pete Hautman is a young adult novelist who has also written Rash, Invisible and Godless. He lives in Minnesota with his partner and fellow author, Mary Logue. He has been playing poker since he was 8 (Hautman, 2007, p 140).
6. Genre
Short Stories
7. Curriculum Ties
I would encourage students to read this collection of stories for an outside reading book in an English class.
8. Booktalking Ideas
-How do the authors use Poker to emphasize real-life problems?
-Do you agree with the editor that poker is mostly a game of skill with a little luck?
9. Reading Level/ Interest Age
Though some of the stories have an advanced writing style and more adult themes, I think that this collection of short stories would mostly appeal to 15-17 year olds.
10. Challenge Issues
The story, “The Cards That Are Hidden,” by Alex Flinn looks at how poker can lead to addiction and even abuse (2007).
The story, “Fiddy Dolla Smile” by Bill Fitzhugh includes offensive language including racial slurs (2007).
The story, “Suicide King” by Walter Sorrells looks at mental illness (2007).
Taken separately, there are instances that could cause some concern; however, by looking at the aspects of these stories instead of the overall picture, some readers will have a skewed view of the authors and their contributions. If a challenge arose I would encourage that person to read the short stories in their entirety before passing judgment. If a person still wished to challenge this book I would refer he or she to the ALA’s challenge form found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
11. Why was it selected?
I wanted to include an example of short stories in my blog, and I thought that a book about poker might be interesting to teens.
12. Citations
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Hautman, P. (Ed.). (2007). Full house : 10 stories about poker. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
Picture
Amazon.com. (2010). Full house: 10 stories about Poker (Hardcover). Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Full-House-Stories-About-Poker/dp/0399245286/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270058965&sr=1-1
13. Awards
No awards known.
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