"Like Mandarin" by Kirsten Hubbard

Have you ever been envious of a classmate? Grace Carpenter isn't quite envious; she is infatuated with Mandarin Ramey, an upperclassman at her high school. Mandarin is feisty, popular with the boys, and not afraid to show her independence. She's definitely got herself a reputation in their small, Wyoming town. And reputation is something Grace is lacking. Grace excels at her classes, is tired of her old friends, and her mom and sister are too busy doing the beauty pageant circuit to pay much attention to her. Grace is dying for more excitement in her boring life, and she's convinced Mandarin can provide it. The two girls are paired up for a school project, and they form an unlikely friendship, surprising everyone. But when Mandarin starts showing Grace how people really are, Grace isn't sure she's ready for all the drama.