Windfall

Best friends Alice and Teddy know about hard luck. Nine years ago Alice was uprooted from San Francisco to move in with her aunt, uncle, and cousin in Chicago after her parents died. Teddy has had to deal with a gambling addict father, who drained the family’s bank account before abandoning them. But on his 18th birthday, Teddy’s luck changes when Alice buys him a winning lottery ticket. After receiving millions of dollars, he goes wild with his newfound fortune while Alice, who refuses to take the cut of the money, focuses on her volunteer work. In a story that tests the morals and steadfastness of two vulnerable adolescents, Smith (Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between) smartly explores the psyche of Alice, examining why she chooses not to become rich and how she is plagued by her changing feelings toward Teddy as he wrestles with being a teenage multimillionaire. Though the plot is somewhat predictable, Smith’s dynamic characters and their complex struggles (including Alice’s gay cousin, Leo, who has his own share of conflicts) will keep readers invested. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jennifer Joel, ICM. (May)