Epic Game. (Rapid Reads). William Kowalski. Victoria, BC: Raven Books/Orca, 2016. 133 pp., pbk., pdf & epub., $9.95 (pbk.). ISBN 978-1-4598-1049-5 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-4598-1150-1 (pdf), ISBN 978-1-4598-1051-8 (epub). Grades 10 and up / Ages 15 and up. Review by Christina Pike. **** /4 Reviewed from Advance Reading Copy.

excerpt:

This tournament is a big one. The biggest I've ever played in. It's not the World Series of Poker. I'm not quite there yet. But there will be a couple thousand other people playing. Only one of them gets to win. I'm determined that's going to be me.

The main purse is one million dollars... That's what the first place winner gets.

The second place player gets a hundred. Not a hundred thousand. One hundred dollars. That's just to rub it in - second place might as well be last.

Epic Game tells the story of Kat, a young single and childless professional poker player. She comes by it naturally as her deceased father was also a poker player, just not as successful. Kat is determined to win the big game and collect the million dollar prize. In the midst of her qualifying, Kat receives an unexpected phone call and her life and plans are completely turned around.

      Kowalski creates a believable character in Kat. In a world filled with social media and on-line gaming, a young professional poker player is fitting with the times. Kowalski challenges Kat and her beliefs, and, at the same time, forces readers to question their own values. Hidden beneath this simple story, Kowalski demands that Kat re-examine her life choices, and with this exploration, readers are also challenged.

      A good read.

Highly Recommended.

Christina Pike is the Principal of St. Paul's Junior High in St. John's, NL.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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