Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

It's hard to find beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming. Fourteen-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances and pickup trucks adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild girl Mandarin Ramey: seventeen, shameless and utterly carefree.
Grace would give ANYTHING to be like Mandarin.
When the two misfits are united for a project, they embark on an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies, and constantly searching for someplace magic. Grace even plays along when Mandarin suggests they make a pact to run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds that plague their badlands town.
But all too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, even the best friendships can't withstand betrayal.
I'm doing a friendship week soon, and I've been reading some great books that have been exploring the themes of relationships, be it siblings, strangers, or even family. This sounds like a great book that could be added to my existing list. Pity it's not out until March 2011~!
P.S. Love the cover! Especially the colors!
Until next time,

I'm really looking forward to this, but I didn't realize this wouldn't be out until 2011. :[
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