Summary: Jackpot by Nic Stone
17-year-old Rico has a lot on her plate. She works the afternoon shift at the Gas n Go and spends the rest of her free time looking after her little brother and trying to cushion the effects of her mom’s poor financial decisions on their family. But when the owner of a winning lottery ticket purchased from her doesn’t show up to claim the prize, Rico is forced to partner with her wealthy (and wildly attractive) classmate Zan to track the woman down and maybe get her to split her wins with Rico.
The Good
This book was so much fun! Nic Stone is a fantastic narrator on audio, and I loved (and was simultaneously infuriated by Rico’s character). While this book is kind of a falling-in-love story, Stone packs in many musings about race, ethnicity, wealth, and class—making this an excellent book to open up plenty of discussion about these topics. She also explores what it looks like to grow up too quickly and to be in your own way, regardless of the challenges life throws at you.
Stone has a riotous sense of humor that carries through in this novel, and Zan’s easygoing nature pairs well with Rico’s intensity, resulting in many funny scenes. Of course, there’s a sweet twist in this book, but I was hooked and couldn’t stop listening once I started. My one issue with this book is that I wish the ending was more satisfying. Still, the journey was well worth it. I also wished there was more retribution for Rico’s mother, but the author focuses more on engendering compassion for her.
Content Notes
Here are some specifics to know about the content.
Content Warnings
- Death: One referenced death, not on the page
- Alcohol/substance abuse: Some underage drinking
- Sexual: Several sexual references, appropriate for older kids ages 13+
- Violence: Mild
- Illness: Rico’s brother has a medical emergency
Diversity
- Ethnic: Rico is Black, Zan has Latin-American roots
- Sexual orientation: One side character seems to be bisexual
Recommended for ages: 13+
Good for Kids Who Like:
- Kristina Forest’s Where I Wanna Be
- YA romances with meatier issues
- Teen books by Black authors
- Nic Stone fans looking for a lighter read
Publisher Details
Publisher details | Ember |
Author: | Nic Stone |
Illustrator: | N/A |
Publication date: | September 29, 2020 |
Audiobook? | Yes, Libro.fm |
Page count: | 384 |
Cover artists | Designer: |
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