Description

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What happens in Vegas when an all-asexual online friend group attempts to break into a high-stakes gambling club? Shenanigans ensue.

Some people join chess club, some people play football. Jack Shannon runs a secret blackjack ring in his private school’s basement. What else is the son of a Las Vegas casino mogul supposed to do? 

Everything starts falling apart when Jack’s mom is arrested for their family’s ties to organized crime. His sister Beth thinks this is the Shannon family’s chance to finally go straight, but Jack knows that something’s not right. His mom was sold out, and he knows by who. Peter Carlevaro: rival casino owner, mobster, and jilted lover. Gross. 

Jack hatches a plan to break into Carlevaro’s inner sanctum and find what he’s holding over his mom’s head, but Jack’s going to need help. He recruits his closest friends, his online asexual support group, to form his team. All he needs to do is infiltrate a secret high stakes gambling club, save his mom, and dodge any dark secrets about his family he’d rather not know, while hopelessly navigating what it means to be in love while asexual. Easy, right?

About the Author

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Amanda DeWitt holds a degree in film and media arts from the University of Tampa and is currently pursuing a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. She enjoys drawing, Dungeons & Dragon-ing, and also writing, just not whatever it is she really should be writing. She lives in Clearwater, Florida with her dogs, cats, and assortment of chickens.

• Queer and asexual teens seeking stories where sexuality isn’t the focus 
• Librarians and booksellers looking to expand their LGBTQIA+ collections 

• Teens who just finished watching Shadow & Bone on Netflix and fell in love with Kaz Brekker 
• Anyone who loves the thrill of a heist 

Praise For…

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"Jack's narration is by turns humorous and heartfelt, and his feelings for Remy are both sweet and fraught as he struggles to understand how to be in love while ace. . . . DeWitt skillfully employs a breezy narrative and tender emotional beats, centering found family and self-acceptance, to craft a rousing debut.."—Publishers Weekly

"Honesty, accountability, and family stand out as significant themes in Jack's character development. His all-ace friend group highlights the diversity of identities within the spectrum of asexuality and affirms the fluidity of sexuality. . . . A fast-paced, thrilling diversion."—Kirkus Reviews

"Amid the glittering world of high-stakes Vegas gambling, the author balances suspenseful heist shenanigans with explorations of Jack’s personal and family struggles. . . . Hand this Vegas-heist-meets-teen-drama to readers who are looking for breathing space in their adventures, shady ethics, and asexual representation."—School Library Journal

"DeWitt's work bundles the adventures of youthful card sharks with endearing familial ties. . . . The fact that novels like this include gender and sexuality as a complement to the story helps normalize situations teens have long struggled silently with."—School Library Connection

"DeWitt creates a vibe that’s Spy Kids by way of Ocean’s Eleven in the best way possible. . . . Rat-a-tat dialogue and well-developed relationships between Jack and his friends offer more highlights. . . . Aces Wild is a fast-paced exploration of the risks we take for the people we love."—BookPage

"A thoroughly delightful book to be read over and over."—Booklist

“What a thrilling heist, and a fabulous debut from DeWitt! I had a blast reading this book. Between its laugh-out-loud moments, gasp-worthy twists, wonderfully diverse cast, and a voice that leaps off the page, I wished I could keep hanging out with Jack and his friends after the story ended.” – Diana Urban, author of These Deadly Games

“Aces Wild is the queer heist I've been waiting for! Thrilling, emotional, and downright delightful, this is the book I wish I'd had as a teenager. A fun and satisfying romp!” – Rosiee Thor, author of Tarnished Are the Stars

“A fast-paced read full of characters who will steal your heart, Aces Wild is a fantastic book that I wish my younger self could have read. Fans of heists and found families don't want to miss this one!” – Linsey Miller, author of What We Devour and Prince of Song and Sea