Hard Cash [Mass Market Paperback]

Kate Cann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

Easy Money

Rich is sick of being broke. He can never afford new clothes and has to scrounge off his mates in the pub. The girl he fancies won't look at him twice, and he's pretty sure that life is passing him by.

But soon fortune decides to smile on Richard Steele, and before long, he has more money than he can count -- it's just burning a hole in his pocket. And with the money comes everything he's dreamed of: trendy clothing, independence, and, yes, sex. But Rich is about to learn that with hard cash comes difficult choices -- some that he might not be ready for....

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-What 17-year-old Rich needs more than anything is cash: for art supplies, for new clothes, and to take the hottest girl on campus out on a date. Day in and day out, he obsesses over all things financial-from the cheap cut of meat his mom serves for dinner to bumming a few pounds off his best friend to pay for half a pint at the pub. When Rich finally gets his break from a swaggeringly successful ad executive, he learns that wealth comes with a price, namely selling (out) his macabre paintings for an Alcopop commercial. Cann captures Rich's money obsession with almost annoying clarity as the teen first struggles with poverty and later fights to keep a lid on spending once fortune finally does arrive. And although Cann's unique voice is full of Briticisms, her dead-on characterization and high-speed pacing add up to a cleverly realistic, nondidactic, and sarcastic first novel in a new series about money, materialism, and their effects on the teenage psyche.
Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 10-12. Rich, a 17-year-old British student and aspiring artist, longs for new clothes, art supplies, and the money to take out his object of lust, materialistic glamour girl Portia. When his sketches attract the interest of charismatic advertising agency executive Nick, Rich is elated, particularly when Portia also takes notice. After Nick's promises fall through, Rich learns hard lessons about measuring success and trusting his heart. The first book in a proposed trilogy, this is slower, more thoughtful, and less racy than its sexy cover suggests. Rich tells his own story in a strong, age-appropriate voice, but his meticulous descriptions of mundane details slow the story's momentum. The frequent Briticisms may also puzzle some readers. What teens will easily relate to are Rich's battles for independence with his family, his yearning for cash and a beautiful girl, and his pain and humiliation when he wises up and realizes what's most important to him. The open ending will leave readers anxious for the next installment. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse; 1 edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689859058
• ISBN-13: 978-0689859052
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,693,015 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hard Cash is best, January 16, 2004

By 

Ashley (Bath, Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hard Cash (Mass Market Paperback)

Hard Cash is one of the best college student stories ever. It really captures the reader so that it is almost imossible to put the book down. I'm sure many young adults can find themselves in the same situations as Rich (main character).
This is a most read!

4.0 out of 5 stars The Ups and Downs of Teen, March 13, 2006

By 

susan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hard Cash (Mass Market Paperback)

The book "Hard Cash" by Kate Cann takes place in Europe and the main character is a seventeen-year-old guy named Rich. Despite is name he is no where close to being rich. The story has many life lessons and any teenager can relate to the hardships that Rich goes through. In my opinion this is a great book to read on your own time.

The story is about a guy named Rich who doesn't have much money and is an artest who goes to college. Seeking for money Rich sends his pictures he drew to a few agencies. One agency calls him and thought that they could use the drawing for designs. The agent named Nick didn't promise anything, but said he could go for a dinner meeting with some clients. They went and it went well, they didn't want to use Rich's drawings. Rich got his hopes up too much and let money rule his life. Rich thought he was going to get the job so he didn't apply himself that much to his studies in college. That slipped and his parents got mad and his life went down to the dumps again. Thanks to his art professor, the college didn't kick him out and thanks to Nick's lovely wife he got a place to stay and his life shaped up. So no matter how bad your life can get everything can always shape up and never let things rule your life like money.

To conclude, I recommend this book to anyone that wants to relate to real life situations and to who ever is looking for a good book to read. This was a good book and I rate it highly. It has many life learning lessons such as to always know who your friends and an never loose sight of what you DO have because there is always ways and things you could have more of. Money never is an object and it never buys happiness. Rich learned it the hard way by counting on it too much, and if he didn't have the people that cared about him so much he would be in a deep hole. So, go and read this excellent book to really find out all the ups and down that Rich goes through in his life.

5.0 out of 5 stars Am on the final novel of the trilogy now!, December 13, 2004

By 

A. Dennis "A Law Student" (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hard Cash (Mass Market Paperback)

This trilogy is absolutely fantastic. The first novel introduces you to Rich and his world. Everything in it is interesting. The novel is fast-paced with constant action. The novel is hip, fresh, and real. None of the daddy's little rich girls quarrling here- save it for Gossip Girls. Anyone can relate to Rich and the other characters in Hard Cash. I recommend this trilogy for grades 11 up because the Cann writes with a good usage of vocabulary.