• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12 to 18

The odds have never been higher for Essie now that her twin sister's life is on the line.

Ester "Essie" Tomasi is a genius. She got an early entrance scholarship to university and at eighteen years old is already in her second year of pre-med. But Essie also struggles with a dark secret: she has a serious gambling problem. She is falling deeper and deeper into debt, struggling to keep up with her heavy course load and unable to make even the simplest of decisions without flipping a coin. But when Essie makes a bet that she can’t cover, it’s her identical twin sister, Aggie, who comes to the rescue, making a dangerous deal with the gangsters holding Essie’s latest bet. Essie must find her way out of this mess or risk losing everything she’s ever cared about.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Brooke Carter was born and raised in beautiful British Columbia, where she earned an MFA in Creative Writing (UBC) and where she currently makes her home with her family. She is the author of the Orca Soundings titles Another Miserable Love Song and Learning Seventeen and the Orca Sports title Lucky Break. For more information, visit www.brookecarter.com.

Brooke Carter's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

“Both believable and chilling…The story line, engaging characters, the tension and high stakes, will absorb both boys and girls of all reading abilities. Highly Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“The story moves along at a thrilling clip, sure to maintain readers' attention. A royal flush of a read for reluctant readers.”

Kirkus Reviews

“These engaging, fast-paced books...depict difficult topics with sensitivity.”

School Library Journal