Like Mandarin by Kristin Hubbard

This takes place in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, around 14-year-old Grace Carpenter who does not share her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances adored by her small-town classmates. She is intrigued by wild-girl Mandarin Ramey: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin. 

When Grace and Mandarin are united for a project, they form an unlikely, explosive friendship.  This is a light easy read with enjoyable quirky characters and a good plot that has a steady pace.

Rating: 4.4 Recommend