Status
Available
Call number
Call number
FIC WAG c.2
Collection
Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML:Cree Thunderboy wants nothing less than to be the next great blues man. But, playing to tiny audiences in shabby rooms like Shelly's Crab Shack, his career is stalled. Then at the race track he meets Win Hardy, a seemingly charming rogue who spots Cree's knack for picking winning horses. He offers to record his first CD and send him on tour, as long as Cree can keep coming up with the hot tips at the track. Things are looking good for Cree until he discovers Win's connections to the mob and his violent response to anything that doesn't go his way. And when things inevitably go bad, Cree discovers that in life and in gambling there is never really the next sure thing.
Genres
Publication
Rapid Reads (2011), 144 pages
Original language
English
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member laVermeer
I enjoyed THE NEXT SURE THING by Richard Wagamese. It's a fast-paced story about aspiring Native musician Cree Thunderboy, who inadvertently gets involved with organized crime. The plot drives relentlessly forward, necessitating the use of stereotypes and predictable plot points, but Cree's
This volume is another in the Rapid Reads series, books aimed primarily at adult readers new to English literacy or at readers who want a quick, focussed reading experience. The series succeeds on both counts. These books are well crafted, offering a solid reading challenge despite their basic composition, and the contributing writers represent some top names in Canadian publishing. I hope the project continues to be successful.
I would recommend THE NEXT SURE THING for collections with an emphasis on emerging English literacy and for readers who enjoy plot-driven fiction. While straightforward, the book offers a satisfying, entertaining mob-thriller story.
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street-smart voice is bold and appealing. Readers are sure to like and cheer for this character.This volume is another in the Rapid Reads series, books aimed primarily at adult readers new to English literacy or at readers who want a quick, focussed reading experience. The series succeeds on both counts. These books are well crafted, offering a solid reading challenge despite their basic composition, and the contributing writers represent some top names in Canadian publishing. I hope the project continues to be successful.
I would recommend THE NEXT SURE THING for collections with an emphasis on emerging English literacy and for readers who enjoy plot-driven fiction. While straightforward, the book offers a satisfying, entertaining mob-thriller story.
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LibraryThing member LynnB
This is my third "Rapid Reads" book. I've read one that I really liked, and one that, in my opinion, didn't work at all. The Next Sure Thing has tipped the balance in favour of the series: author Richard Wagamses has put together a solid story with good characters.
Cree Thunderboy is an aspiring
Cree's character is well drawn and the plot moves well without straining credibility too much -- quite a feat for such a short book. Rapid Reads, while aimed at beginning adult readers, are also a good choice for someone who wants a quick story or a light read.
Cree Thunderboy is an aspiring
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singer/songwriter who inadvertently gets cautht up in the world of organized crime. This is a story about how life can "happen" to us and how we have to live with the consequences of our choices. It's also a story about taking control of your life.Cree's character is well drawn and the plot moves well without straining credibility too much -- quite a feat for such a short book. Rapid Reads, while aimed at beginning adult readers, are also a good choice for someone who wants a quick story or a light read.
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LibraryThing member GypsyJon
This was an interesting little book. It was well written and a fun short read.
LibraryThing member gbower
I really enjoyed this tale. I read it in one sitting and did not want to put it down until the end. Chee Thunderboy was a likeable and believeable main character and the story flowed well.
2011
2011
LibraryThing member tippygirl
A very fast paced story of a talented young man, with a passion and talent for playing guitar blues. Cree, has a second talent. Betting on just the right winning horse at the local racetrack. By chance, or in this case fate, Cree meets a powerful man at the racetrack who hires him to make his bets.
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In return, Cree's new boss, Win Hardy, books him a studio recording, pays a year rent, and helps his family with money, like it just fell out of the sky. Cree can't believe his luck, but soon finds out there is a huge price to pay attached to it. The real game of life and death begins, as Cree, tries to out smart and outplay Hardy at the track. A fun read. Show Less
LibraryThing member ekoch
I was not familiar with the Rapid Reads series when I started this book and later learned that the Rapid Reads series is for adults who may be beginning readers, learning English as a second language, or just wanting more of a short story than a novel. I did miss the prose of regular novel but
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found the plot to be interesting and action packed so it was an enjoyable read. Cree Thunderboy is a likeable character with a variedmixture traits, such as greed and poor judgement countered by a studied genius and code of honor. Show Less
LibraryThing member delphimo
This is an interesting, but short book about gambling and blues music. The main character is Cree Thunderboy a want-to-be blues musician who lives on an Indian reservation. Cree plays a wicked blues guitar and wants to be the next great blues player. On the side, Cree luckily picks winning horses.
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Unfortunately, a small time gambler who befriends and “buys” Cree notices this winning. Hardy, the small time gambler, threatens Cree when Cree picks a loser, which throws Hardy deeper into debt. Since I have experienced the thrills and disappointments of horse racing, this novel provided fun and insight into betting. Show Less
LibraryThing member wiremonkey
Review written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers
As a high school librarian, I have been eyeing Orca Books reluctant reader series for a while now. How fortuitous it was then that I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of one of their newer titles in the mail (I thank you Librarything), "The Next Sure
Here is what Orca says about their Rapid Reads series:
Orca Book Publishers is excited to introduce Rapid Reads, a line of short novels and non-fiction books for adult readers. In our increasingly fast-paced world we believe there is a need for well-written, well-told books that can be read in one sitting. Rapid Reads are intended for a diverse audience, including ESL students, reluctant readers, adults who struggle with literacy and anyone who wants an high-interest quick read.
I know. Intriguing, isn't it? Especially if you have a teenager who doesn't like to read or suffers from learning disabilities and getting through a normal-sized fiction book is akin to reading the Iliad in the original Greek. The stories are interesting to older readers and yet short, fast-paced and at a 2.0-4.5 reading level on the Fry Readability Formula. Based on the average number of sentences and syllables per a hundred words, the Fry formula works on the basis of the lower the easier. All of Orca's reluctant reader's series are at the same level, whether they are books for middle grades, teens or adults.
The Next Sure Thing is told from the perspective of Cree Thunderboy, a First Nations (though this is of no importance other than he grew up poor on the reserve) twenty-something who aspires to be a blues musician. Alas, gigs are few and far between, so he uses his second talent, picking winning horses at the track, to subsidize his income. When a mysterious man offers Cree a whole lot of money and studio time to cut his new album to pick winners for him, the offer is too good to pass up. But the deal had some small print Cree wasn't aware of and he finds himself in a relationship that could prove fatal not just for him, but for everyone he cares about.
The Next Sure Thing is as fast-paced as the races described within. At 134 pages, Wagamese puts Cree through his paces. Cree tends to talk in Blues clichés, which although true to character, can be a little annoying and too easy. Still, his voice is constant and endearing and the story outlandish but not quite implausible.
In terms of Rapid Reads, I can attest to that- I read most of it in the bath. I would recommend especially to boy reluctant readers. Although it is in the adult series, there is nothing too graphic (except for a particularly harsh beating - but I've read worse in Harry Potter) and no sex or, indeed, no women at all in the book.
As a high school librarian, I have been eyeing Orca Books reluctant reader series for a while now. How fortuitous it was then that I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of one of their newer titles in the mail (I thank you Librarything), "The Next Sure
Show More
Thing" by Richard Wagamese.Here is what Orca says about their Rapid Reads series:
Orca Book Publishers is excited to introduce Rapid Reads, a line of short novels and non-fiction books for adult readers. In our increasingly fast-paced world we believe there is a need for well-written, well-told books that can be read in one sitting. Rapid Reads are intended for a diverse audience, including ESL students, reluctant readers, adults who struggle with literacy and anyone who wants an high-interest quick read.
I know. Intriguing, isn't it? Especially if you have a teenager who doesn't like to read or suffers from learning disabilities and getting through a normal-sized fiction book is akin to reading the Iliad in the original Greek. The stories are interesting to older readers and yet short, fast-paced and at a 2.0-4.5 reading level on the Fry Readability Formula. Based on the average number of sentences and syllables per a hundred words, the Fry formula works on the basis of the lower the easier. All of Orca's reluctant reader's series are at the same level, whether they are books for middle grades, teens or adults.
The Next Sure Thing is told from the perspective of Cree Thunderboy, a First Nations (though this is of no importance other than he grew up poor on the reserve) twenty-something who aspires to be a blues musician. Alas, gigs are few and far between, so he uses his second talent, picking winning horses at the track, to subsidize his income. When a mysterious man offers Cree a whole lot of money and studio time to cut his new album to pick winners for him, the offer is too good to pass up. But the deal had some small print Cree wasn't aware of and he finds himself in a relationship that could prove fatal not just for him, but for everyone he cares about.
The Next Sure Thing is as fast-paced as the races described within. At 134 pages, Wagamese puts Cree through his paces. Cree tends to talk in Blues clichés, which although true to character, can be a little annoying and too easy. Still, his voice is constant and endearing and the story outlandish but not quite implausible.
In terms of Rapid Reads, I can attest to that- I read most of it in the bath. I would recommend especially to boy reluctant readers. Although it is in the adult series, there is nothing too graphic (except for a particularly harsh beating - but I've read worse in Harry Potter) and no sex or, indeed, no women at all in the book.
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LibraryThing member wenzowsa
I received this book as part of the "Early Reviewers" program, and was excited to read this Wagamese novel (having read several other of his books and having found them to be delightfully humorous and engaging). I found that I wasn't disappointed with his latest release. The story was compelling,
As a teacher on a reservation, I've placed this book in my classroom library, and have had a few kids read it (they've also enjoyed it). Bravo!
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and the characters were ones that adolescents can easily identify with.As a teacher on a reservation, I've placed this book in my classroom library, and have had a few kids read it (they've also enjoyed it). Bravo!
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LibraryThing member krissa
First thing I want to say, is I am in love with these little orca books. This is the second of three that I have read, and have immensely enjoyed them all. They are quick, interesting, intelligent reads, and I would recommend them for reluctant readers of any age, or anyone who wants a fast,
The main character, Cree, was interesting, and smart, but it was his best friend Ashton who really had me hooked. He was the voice of reason, and was there with his friend, through it all, until the end. I think I would have split long before (but then, that is what makes it a good book, as opposed to real life. There is a tension from beginning to end, that kept me coming back throughout my day for 'just a few more pages'. It was something the author did really well. I heard recently that 'bad decisions make good stories', and to me, this felt like a great example of that. It felt like he was making a deal with the devil to me from the beginning, and it got worse as he went, and it made your heart ache for him. I thought the ending was great, and without spoiling anything for anybody, it made the whole book worth reading (I hate a weak ending in books, it feels like a let down after all that 'work'). Great payoff! This is a Canadian publisher, and a Canadian author, but I didn't feel like it had a Canadian feel. (in my opinion, so many Canadians try and write 'literature' and it comes off feeling a little forced, and I struggle with that.) instead, this one felt very natural. It wasn't trying to live up to a standard, or fit in to a box of what someone thought it should be. *please don't read this as I am anti-literature, because I am not, there is a lot of GREAT literature out there, I am just against 'forced literature'.*
This was a sweet story, that came across as smart and entertaining. The down side is at $10 it cost the same as a full length book for 130 pages. But if you have a reluctant reader in your life, it could be worth it. I will definitely search out more of these, but possibly at my library or second hand book store.
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entertaining read.The main character, Cree, was interesting, and smart, but it was his best friend Ashton who really had me hooked. He was the voice of reason, and was there with his friend, through it all, until the end. I think I would have split long before (but then, that is what makes it a good book, as opposed to real life. There is a tension from beginning to end, that kept me coming back throughout my day for 'just a few more pages'. It was something the author did really well. I heard recently that 'bad decisions make good stories', and to me, this felt like a great example of that. It felt like he was making a deal with the devil to me from the beginning, and it got worse as he went, and it made your heart ache for him. I thought the ending was great, and without spoiling anything for anybody, it made the whole book worth reading (I hate a weak ending in books, it feels like a let down after all that 'work'). Great payoff! This is a Canadian publisher, and a Canadian author, but I didn't feel like it had a Canadian feel. (in my opinion, so many Canadians try and write 'literature' and it comes off feeling a little forced, and I struggle with that.) instead, this one felt very natural. It wasn't trying to live up to a standard, or fit in to a box of what someone thought it should be. *please don't read this as I am anti-literature, because I am not, there is a lot of GREAT literature out there, I am just against 'forced literature'.*
This was a sweet story, that came across as smart and entertaining. The down side is at $10 it cost the same as a full length book for 130 pages. But if you have a reluctant reader in your life, it could be worth it. I will definitely search out more of these, but possibly at my library or second hand book store.
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LibraryThing member Mrs.Scholey
An entertaining short read with interesting characters that remain true to form from beginning to end.
LibraryThing member fiverivers
A gritty, crusty, very male-oriented novella from Richard Wagamese, exploring the underbelly of mobsters, playing race track odds, and an Ojibwa man just trying to make his way in the world.
A bit naive in its ending, but given the Rapid Reads series is likely geared toward YA readers,
As always Wagamese delivers remarkable detail, although in this story I felt his characters were a bit predictable and cardboard.
Still and all, a good read, if not one of Wagamese's best offerings.
A bit naive in its ending, but given the Rapid Reads series is likely geared toward YA readers,
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understandable.As always Wagamese delivers remarkable detail, although in this story I felt his characters were a bit predictable and cardboard.
Still and all, a good read, if not one of Wagamese's best offerings.
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LibraryThing member jwyss
When I first began reading this Juvenile novel, it was hard to figure out which decade the story took place. The author incorporates old blues and racetrack lingo into the contemporary narrative. The story of a young Cree man who meets hardships as a blues musician. It is a quick read and well
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paced and could read by intermediate students. I would recommend to boy reluctant readers. Show Less
ISBN
1554699002 / 9781554699001