Rich and Mad — William Nicholson

Maddy is a sixteen-year-old who likes a boy in her theater club.

Joe is cute and popular and, incredibly, sending signals that he likes her back. Or does he? Isn't Joe going out with Gemma?

Rich has a crush on Grace, and he even sends a letter of recommendation from the pope to get her to pay attention to him. But Grace doesn't appreciate that tactic. . . .

The problem is, in life's messy mixed signals of friends and lies and sex and status, true love can be hard to find. And the real thing doesn't always come in the most obvious package, either. Is it possible that the person you never thought of that way is the one who will ultimately touch your heart?

This compelling exploration of feelings, expectations, and attraction offers a contemporary and candid look at love and sexuality while moving readers with its gentle portrayal of a very special first relationship.