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)