monique polak

Monique Polak's Books

allinPublisher: James Lorimer, 2006

Todd Lerner’s not much of a student, but he’s got plenty of street smarts and a mean poker face. Todd’s got his eye on Claire, the most beautiful girl in grade eleven. But Claire likes nice things, and if Todd wants to date her, he’ll need cash and plenty of it.

A weekly poker game soon turns into a costly and dangerous obsession, and Todd’s luck begins to change. Inspired by true events, All In journeys into the high-stakes world of gambling, addiction, and fraud.

--“Polak’s attempt at tackling a topic which has received limited attention in YA novels is commendable. Her work prompts adults working with teens to realize that gambling addiction is not a social problem with which only adults and seniors wrestle.” – Canadian Bookseller

--“Told in the first-person, this well-paced tale is full of valuable life lessons.” – CM Magazine

Monique's Blog

05 June 2026
I don't think I've told you yet, dear blog readers, but I'm the Montreal Jewish Public Library's new...

Latest News

Breaking news!

Remember This: The Fascinating World of Memory (Orca) was nominated for both The Lane Anderson Award for Canadian Science Writing -- Young Reader Category, and the Quebec Writers' Federation Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children's and YA Literature.

Yasmine, Experte en Scènes de Crime (the French translation of Forensics Squad Unleashed) was recently published by Les Editions Héritage. The novel was translated into French by Rachel Martinez.

Vois tout ce qu'il te reste (the French translation of What World Is Left) was recently published by Septention. The novel was translated into French by Rachel Martinez.

The Korean version of Planet Grief was recently published by Changbi Publishers.

 

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