Can’t Wait Wednesday: Accidental

Accidental by Alex Richards

This timely, emotionally-resonant story about a teen girl dealing with the aftermath of a tragic shooting is a must-read from an exciting new YA talent.

Johanna has had more than enough trauma in her life. She lost her mom in a car accident, and her father went AWOL when Johanna was just a baby. At sixteen, life is steady, boring . . . maybe even stifling, since she’s being raised by her grandparents who never talk about their daughter, her mother Mandy.

Then he comes back: Robert Newsome, Johanna’s father, bringing memories and pictures of Mandy. But that’s not all he shares. A tragic car accident didn’t kill Mandy–it was Johanna, who at two years old, accidentally shot her own mother with an unsecured gun.

Now Johanna has to sort through it all–the return of her absentee father, her grandparents’ lies, her part in her mother’s death. But no one, neither her loyal best friends nor her sweet new boyfriend, can help her forgive them. Most of all, can she ever find a way to forgive herself?

In a searing, ultimately uplifting story, debut author Alex Richards tackles a different side of the important issue that has galvanized teens across our country.

Ever since last year when I dived deeper into contemporary realistic fiction, I’ve been seeking out contemporaries that are bringing more than just the fluff. This is one of the books that I immediately jumped on. I spotted this book when I was looking at a blogger outreach form, and I knew I had to try to seek it out. I’ve yet to read many books specifically regarding gun violence, and it’s such a timely and important topic. This story sounds like it’s going to be amazingly deep and emotional, and I am eager to dive in.

✔️ THIS BOOK IS RAPUNZEL APPROVED! 

Rapunzel certainly knows what it’s like to be lied to about her real parent’s backstories, and she has to live with that betrayal. I think she’ll really connect with our heroine in this story.

What do you think? Is this on your book TBR as well?