Jackpot by Nic Stone

Jackpot by Nic Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, Nic Stone has crafted 2 protagonists I won't ever forget. Rico (love that name!!!) is a mixed race teen who holds a job, watches her brother, Jax, after school and has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Why? Her single mom, has them living above their means, won't apply for any kind of assistance or insurance, and she has health issues too so whenever she gets sick, Rico has to double up on making money. Why? Because Rico and her mom are responsible for the bills and rent. My heart broke for Rico but she is one tough girl. When she sells a lottery ticket to an old woman who shares 1 with Rico and then the winning ticket is purchased at this Gas n Go, Rico makes a decision. She is going to find that woman and share in the lottery proceeds. But to do this involves Rico from going invisible at her high school to asking for help from Zander, popular, crushworthy and rich. What follows kept me turning the pages; because as Rico keeps to herself her crushing on Zan; Zan is totally into following Rico on her schemes to find the old woman. I loved how Zan and Rico get to know each other, confide things to each other they have never confided to others, and realize maybe they have things in common. Nic Stone has written a must read about family issues, poverty, choices, and stereotypes. Loved this book, these characters and their world so much!

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