A review by andiabcs
Accidental by Alex Richards

4.0

This review was originally posted on Andi's ABCs


I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I can’t remember how I heard about Accidental but I do remember I wanted to read it as soon as I learned about its existence. It seemed like a book that not only had never read anything like, but something that is current and could almost have been ripped from the headlines. I knew it would be a heavy book, and I was prepared. And although it wasn’t as emotional as I expected, Accidental was a book I was happy to have read.

Accidental is about 16 year old Johanna who is being raised by her grandparents after her mom was killed in a car accident when Jo was 2. At least that is what she is raised to believe. But when her MIA father shows back up in her life Jo learns the truth, her mother never died in a car accident. Her mother was in fact shot by Jo with an unsecured gun her father owned. Suddenly the easy like Jo was living is no longer right. Jo is just angry. She is angry at her grandparents and at herself and at her life. And when everyone at school finds out things get worse and Jo has to really decide if she can forgive herself for something she doesn’t even remember doing or if she is going to let her anger eat her away.

What I liked about Accidental is that it wasn’t a book that was preachy about gun violence which obviously is a problem we have here in the US. Alex Richards took a subject and wrote about it in a thoughtful manner that made you think and sympathize. My heart broke for Jo and all the other kids this has happened too because it is senseless and stupid and something that just doesn’t have to happen. That is what I liked about this book the most. I also really liked Jo. I understood all of her emotions and why she would push people away and then feel bad. She went from thinking one thing her whole life to learning she played a part in killing someone she didn’t even remember. That has to mess with someone’s head.

Accidental is a solid read and one you should have on your TBR. Whoever told me to read this one was right, it is not a book to miss. My review may be a little vague because it is hard to explain until you experience the pages, but just know this is one you should read.