Texas Hold'em

A journey of learning to deal with life

Michelle “the Great Bubbles” Pond is convinced to chaperone her newly teenaged, joker daughters’ school band on a competition in San Antonio, Texas, as the first non-nat group ever participating in this national elite high school band event. Things escalate when protestors against anyone affected with the XTA-virus show up to the site of the event. Prejudices from some lead to attempts to sabotage the Joker band’s performances, almost resulting in extreme tragedy(s).

Some of the other chaperones for the Xavier Desmond High School go through their own life experiences on this trip which teach them great lessons on life, as they navigate the teenagers’ having to deal with prejudice, Love, and their desire to be seen for their talents in music or simply for their hearts.

Michelle maintains the majority of time as the primary protagonist having to learn new ways to accept her growing daughters change from a once lovingly hip joined baby girl into a blossoming teenager with her own idea of what cool is and affectations of the heart. Additionally, Bubbles tries to discover who is the culprit of the seemingly random events of near destruction happening to her group of kids as they perform against bands from other high schools of different States and the prejudices or similarities shared amongst these kids.

Some of the nat (natural human person) kids discover the difficulties of life the joker kids have to live with and how being prejudice against them is morally wrong. Other nats end up discovering their own latent wild cards turn and they’ve drawn an ace, joker, or deuce of their own. Still, other kids who’ve hidden their ace/deuce all their lives see the opportunity to learn from teens like their self about what it’s like to be a wild card.

Throughout the book the feelings of these characters journey through many emotions as they learn to accept who they are and accept those around them who are different.

This is by far one of the best novels in the Wild Card series because of how close to home it comes to life in families who are different from those normally accepted in today’s society. Although it didn’t have any side stories including other major characters in the Wild Card universe (Tachyon, Croyd Crenson, Fortunato to name a few) it still kept me interested and continuing to turn pages.

It may seem to be “woke” by some but I lean towards it being more “real”. I do know the irony in that last statement. However, it is engaging and a joy to read.