Alex O'Brien Books

The story follows fourteen-year-old Chris, who struggles with depression despite appearing average to his peers. After quitting hockey due to self-blame, he takes up soccer, which begins to uplift him. However, complications arise when former teammate Trent questions Chris's emotional state, jeopardizing his recovery. As they prepare for a summer tournament, Chris grapples with the decision to hide his depression, facing the challenges of stigma and the fear of losing his team's support.

In a bid to join the Bantam girls team, the Barrie Sharks, Zoey faces the challenge of overcoming her shyness and financial obstacles stemming from her family's farm. Her talent catches the eye of Coach Mikom and teammates, but she also encounters rivalry with wealthy Mel and embarrassment from teammate Kat regarding her rural roots. As Zoey navigates these dynamics, she grapples with her father's behavior and the bullying from an opposing player, testing her resilience both on and off the ice.

Uncertainty, risk, ambiguity, emotion, non-verbal behaviour - in so many ways life is like a game of poker. So approach it like a poker player, with critical thinking.In The Truth Detective, science journalist and competitive poker player Alex O'Brien shows how we can survive and prosper in a world full of uncertainty and incomplete information. It's a book about getting to the truth.You'll meet a host of experts who break down the science of navigating a world in which fact and fiction are becoming increasingly hard to tell apart. Presenting evidence from psychological research and a range of professionals - from FBI agents and behavioural economists to poker aces and bounty hunters - O'Brien assembles strategies we can all use to analyse the information that surrounds us every day.Tackle life like a poker player. Let your critical thinking guide you through the jungle of disinformation - and on to success in the game of life.