The Poker Diaries
Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at
7:12 am
Product Description
From the author of Rock My World and High School Bites-a tale of a poker-playing teen whose two lives are about to collide. For a city girl, Lulu has the best of both worlds-uptown and downtown. Her mother teaches her about art and high society…then every other weekend she’s with her dad, playing poker in the back room of her grandfather’s bar. Mark, her downtown crush, is almost as good at the game as she is, but her uptown friends lose their shirts. So when her… More >>
Price: $4.18
Rating: 4.5 (7 reviews)
The Poker Diaries
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Imagine being born in Las Vegas, the city of gambling and night life, but later moving to the streets of New York. Your father is a hard time gambler and you are raised to play poker but if you are not careful, you may get into trouble. In this book by Liz Conrad, Lulu, a fourteen year old girl, and her friend Dak get into a situation way over their heads. Lulu lives uptown New York, in the ritzier neighborhood with her mom who is dating the mayor. She also has her downtown life where she enjoys playing poker in the back of her grandfather’s bar.
Lulu’s ability to play poker is better than anyone she knows besides her dad. Lulu was brought up around many card players including her father, nicknamed “Blackjack,” and her grandfather. Before Lulu, her parents met in Las Vegas and disproved the theory, “What happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas.” “Lulu was brought up playing poker since she could say, “all in.” Her mom doesn’t really approve, but all that matters to Lulu is that she gets the winning hand.
Lulu’s friend Dak is a little conceited and believes he is a very good card player, but once he starts gambling he learns he can’t bet what he’s not willing to lose. “You have to know to hold `em and know when to fold `em.” Once Dak loses his prized watch, given to him by his grandfather, Lulu gets involved. She has to win it back. She ends up playing poker with the gang that stole his watch.
Not only does Lulu have a hard time gambling Dak’s watch back, but she also gets blackmailed by an anonymous poker player named “Poker Fiend.” He knows what a good player Lulu is so he decides to blackmail Lulu’s new soon-to-be step-father, the mayor of New York City. The only way Lulu can get out of this mess is if she gambles illegally to win “Poker Fiend” some money fast or else!
Lulu keeps the pages turning in suspense as she attempts to deal her way out of Dak’s tricky situation. She is quick-thinking when it comes to being blackmailed and when her friends are in trouble. Luckily for Dak, Lulu’s time spent in the back of her grandfather’s bar may pay off. Playing and learning from them will help Lulu and Dak’s situation. She is one of the best card players. In the end, their situation might be one for the books…This novel is full of cunning characters, a great connection between Lulu and Dak, and an unpredictable twist at the end.
Although The Poker Diaries includes rules on “How to Play Poker,” I think you should still have a good sense for the game to completely understand this book. I think this is a good book for girls or guys because the main character is a girl, but guys would enjoy the gambling and poker in this book. I would give it an “A” because it kept my attention to the very last page and it never had a dull moment. You will want to read this book over and over again.
Rating: 5 / 5
I have just discovered this author and have been reading my way through her books. I enjoyed her previous book Rock my World and I also liked this one. The writing is nice and breezy and the storyline is engaging and fun to read.
My only negative comment is that this author tends to make her characters a little too cutesy. She did the same thing in the previous book and it removes from the strength of the overall storyline.
In this case, the main character is a 15 year old girl who plays poker – which is fine. The problem is she is the apple of absolutely EVERYBODY’s eye (including the mayor of New York City who will even eat hot dogs just to please her). It can get a little boring and frankly, unrealistic. The author needs to add a little family/drama to her stuff. NOBODY is that perfect and this author has created main characters that just don’t seem realistic. This is a turn off.
Rating: 3 / 5
Lulu’s Rule of Poker #2 states: Don’t bet what you can’t afford to lose.
Dack thinks he can play poker. Lulu knows he can’t because every time they play strip poker with her friend Angie, they always stop the game with Dack in his boxers. When Lulu goes to her dad’s for the weekend, she gets a panicked phone call from Dack. He played poker with some other rich boys from the neighborhood, and now he’s lost a prized possession.
Lulu, a poker goddess, agrees to play the winner in a rematch. When she arrives, she notices something a little strange about the other players, but nothing too out of the ordinary. She cleans house, taking back Dack’s watch. Both friends think this is the end of the story; however it’s only the beginning.
Soon, Lulu’s in hot water–with her dad, her mom, and maybe her new stepfather, who just happens to be the mayor. Can she fix things before they get way out of hand?
THE POKER DIARIES feature rules of poker, a poker glossary, and rules for certain games. This novel is for anyone who loves poker, helping friends out of tough places, and for those just looking for a fun read.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel
Rating: 5 / 5
Liza Conrad, The Poker Diaries (NAL, 2007)
Nifty little YA novel that will probably appeal more to those whose interest in poker is already established, but whose characters and plot are interesting enough to catch non-fans of the sport as well.
Lulu is a New York girl from both sides of the tracks–her mother is of the Ladies Who Lunch crowd (and is, no less, dating the Mayor), while her father is pure Lower East Side. It’s through him that she’s gained her love of, and skill at, poker. Unfortunately, her upper-class school chums are not quite so good at the game, and when her best friend gets himself in over his head and loses a family heirloom, he asks Lulu to bail him out. All well and good, except for that whole “my mom’s dating the mayor, and backroom poker games are illegal in New York” thing.
Fun book and a very quick read. Lulu’s dilemma is enhanced by personal life problems that most kids will have some empathy for (like her dad not approving of her fledgling romance), but the main plotline is far enough out that those looking for escapism will have a ball of a time. I have to say, though, that the idea that there is an age where one outgrows the taste of maraschino cherries is a truly distressing concept. *** ½
Rating: 4 / 5
I bought this book when I learned that “Liza Conrad” is a pseudonym for Erica Orloff. I’ve loved all of her other novels (written with the E.O. name), so I thought I’d give this a chance as well. Though it’s written for a younger audience (perfect for middle to early high school aged children), it certainly didn’t disappoint for me, as an adult. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. As usual, the author developed her characters so well, and so quickly, that it became very easy to develop a “personal” relationship with Lulu and her plight from the very beginning. The tips on poker, how to play and how to walk away a winner, were a nice touch as well.
Rating: 5 / 5