Books with author Don Dennis

Raise the stakes and feel the heat. Kip is addicted to the pure adrenaline rush that hits when the stakes are high and the bets are laid down. His gambling addiction uses up his money, his mother's money -- and then their real trouble begins. Dennis Foon's believable portrait of a teen caught in a gambling addiction crackles with suspense and a foreboding sense of where Kip will land. Originally published in 2000, this remarkable novel has been updated to reflect new technology and the rise of online gambling. Praise for the previous edition of Double or Nothing: New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age "Our Choice" List, Canadian Children's Book Centre South Carolina Young Adult Book Award finalist "This edgy novel believably captures the nightmare of compulsive gambling." -- Horn Book "Compelling characters . . . a fast-moving plot with plenty of crisp, authentic dialog." -- Booklist

Kip is a typical teenager, trying to catch the Buzz. It is not drugs or alcohol that are going to get him there, but the pure adrenaline rush that hits when you are playing for high stakes: the risks, the thrill - throw in some money and the fun really begins. Double or Nothing follows Kip's ride as he gets more and more involved in high-stakes gambling. Although he is a good kid, does well in school and works at his uncle's restaurant to save for college, his rush comes from betting. What begins as ten-dollar wagers with his buddy quickly escalates. Kip constantly makes bets with himself - what wine will his next customer order? Will it be a glass or a bottle? He has the attitude, knows the odds and has done his research. The thrill comes only when money is laid down. To increase the thrill just raise the stakes. If smell is the strongest sense, imagine the smell of victory, the smell of money. Who could resist? When Kip meets the enticing and wonderful Joey, things couldn't be better. She is unlike any girl he has known. They begin hanging out and then Kip meets Joey's father, King Hewitt, Master Illusionist. Nothing could be cooler. A magician plays the margins like no other. Unfortunately, King turns out to be a compulsive gambler, and takes his young charge to places he has never been before: the races to bet on horses and casinos to play the slots. After winning their first big race on a tip, Kip thinks King is a genius. Despite the spectacle of King losing fifty bucks in less than four minutes on the slots, Kip only becomes more hooked. Can he really feel the energy emanating from the machine? Kip starts skipping school, missing work, diving into his college fund. The buzz is still increasing, but so are his debts. He knows he needs just one more big win to get it all back. Then King hits a losing streak and disappears. Joey's home is crashing down around her and the repo men are turning up. Can Kip keep lying to her and his mom? Can he beat the odds and turn things around before he hits bottom?

Four guys -- Tommy, Brad, Andy and Shane – are all making their way in the jungle that is the last year of high school. Tommy, model student, is heading for the military to learn to fly fighter jets. His best friend, Brad, is being scouted for Junior A, which will finally satisfy his ambitious hockey dad. Andy is on the verge of making his acting breakthrough. He's got an agent, and he's got an audition for the role that could launch his career -- the Punk. All he needs is someone who can show him the moves, teach him the hard stare. He turns to Shane, the kid who is so scary that even the teachers are afraid of him. Shane's in a gang, and he and his brother have ruled the street Andy thinks Shane can teach him how to be a convincing criminal. But when Tommy suspects that Andy has been seeing his girlfriend, Brad goads him into a confrontation, and Shane comes to Andy's aid. And when the shells that the boys have constructed for themselves start to crumble, the situation turns toxic, and tragic.

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SkinIn a country with a rapidly expanding population of ethnic and racial minorities all levels of Canadian society cannot help but be affected. Skin looks at the personal difficulties brought about by racism, especially as it concerns young adults in the school system. Because he has chosen to write about this problem from the viewpoint of the victim, Dennis Foon brings us to an understanding of the dynamics of oppression.LiarsLenny and Jace are a pair of teenagers who in spite of certain differences are attracted to each other. But things grow more complicated when it is revealed that both have parents who are alcoholics. With considerable craft, the author has given us a place of not only harrowing intensity, but one of compassion.

Raise the stakes and feel the heat. Kip is addicted to the pure adrenaline rush that hits when the stakes are high and the bets are laid down. His gambling addiction uses up his money, his mother's money -- and then their real trouble begins. Dennis Foon's believable portrait of a teen caught in a gambling addiction crackles with suspense and a foreboding sense of where Kip will land. Originally published in 2000, this remarkable novel has been updated to reflect new technology and the rise of online gambling. Praise for the previous edition of Double or Nothing: New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age "Our Choice" List, Canadian Children's Book Centre South Carolina Young Adult Book Award finalist "This edgy novel believably captures the nightmare of compulsive gambling." -- Horn Book "Compelling characters . . . a fast-moving plot with plenty of crisp, authentic dialog." -- Booklist

Adventures in Shroomville, a Children-Young Adults novel, has earned many accolades and is honoured to be chosen by educators as an important featured part of the national Newspapers in Education program. Chapters are being serialized by The Hamilton Spectator, and likely other newspapers, throughout the fall. Shroomville had been a happy little village, tucked away deep in a vast boreal forest whose bristling green canopy stretched beyond forever... Oh, one little detail makes this village stand out. You see, these villagers are tiny... about as tall as a typical adult's size-nine shoe. And they live peacefully and happily in mushroom houses. Large, living mushroom houses... For Marshall Shroom, growing up here had been happiness itself - until his 13th year that is! Responding to a telepathic cry for help, Mars sets out on a quest to rescue his father and his best friend Portia from the clutches of the evil Maliset. With emerging new powers and the help of strange new friends, will Marshall succeed in his mission in time? Ron Dennis was once young himself and has never fully recovered from that experience, Writing remarkably enjoyable books for children and young adults is his own form of therapy

Kip is a typical teenager, trying to catch the Buzz. It is not drugs or alcohol that are going to get him there, but the pure adrenaline rush that hits when you are playing for high stakes: the risks, the thrill - throw in some money and the fun really begins. Double or Nothing follows Kip's ride as he gets more and more involved in high-stakes gambling. Although he is a good kid, does well in school and works at his uncle's restaurant to save for college, his rush comes from betting. What begins as ten-dollar wagers with his buddy quickly escalates. Kip constantly makes bets with himself - what wine will his next customer order? Will it be a glass or a bottle? He has the attitude, knows the odds and has done his research. The thrill comes only when money is laid down. To increase the thrill just raise the stakes. If smell is the strongest sense, imagine the smell of victory, the smell of money. Who could resist? When Kip meets the enticing and wonderful Joey, things couldn't be better. She is unlike any girl he has known. They begin hanging out and then Kip meets Joey's father, King Hewitt, Master Illusionist. Nothing could be cooler. A magician plays the margins like no other. Unfortunately, King turns out to be a compulsive gambler, and takes his young charge to places he has never been before: the races to bet on horses and casinos to play the slots. After winning their first big race on a tip, Kip thinks King is a genius. Despite the spectacle of King losing fifty bucks in less than four minutes on the slots, Kip only becomes more hooked. Can he really feel the energy emanating from the machine? Kip starts skipping school, missing work, diving into his college fund. The buzz is still increasing, but so are his debts. He knows he needs just one more big win to get it all back. Then King hits a losing streak and disappears. Joey's home is crashing down around her and the repo men are turning up. Can Kip keep lying to her and his mom? Can he beat the odds and turn things around before he hits bottom?