I was really intrigued by the premise of this book, but some aspects of the execution fell a little flat. The writing style was not for me personally; it read like someone trying a little too hard to write like a teenager would speak. I think it worked for creating the persona of the main character but I personally didn't enjoy it. I also found the overt bullying and some of the other things going on (unaddressed, but in public) at the school to be a little unbelievable. Yeah, bullying happens but not usually right in front of a teacher who says nothing. I do think that Richards did a great job with the plot of the story and its execution. If you like teen drama contemporary YAs, I'd say to give this one a try.

I was honored to get an early copy of Accidental by Alex Richards. Overall, I'm giving it a solid 4/5 stars. The story was well written and entertaining. My attention was held for most of the story. There were some parts that I got lost, but I still highly enjoyed the novel.

Johanna Carlson is your typical teen girl, for the most part. Sure, she's a little too cool for her school (you know, edgy style, not a 'joiner,') but she goes to church, lives with her grandparents, and has multicultural best friends. Let's just say "she's interesting." So her life is turned upside down when her estranged father sends her a letter telling her some devastating news from her past.
Part of me really loves this book. Richards' depiction of how Johanna free falls emotionally and has panic attacks was spot on. The premise of the book is astounding and well developed.
The other side of my brain is grappling with some challenges - all of the build up to the mural and it's researching and planning, but then the actual description of the mural and the text chosen just lacked inspiration. The proposed quotes and ideas were better than the final design, or what I could gather from it based on the abbreviated description. As a reader I wanted to be inspired, to be spoken to, through Johanna, and really get to a connection place the way she would have wanted the viewers of the mural to be inspired.
The reaction and the bullying in the school, so overt, so 'out there' with the school administration completely clueless was frustrating and a little unrealistic in my opinion, but maybe it just shows that the high school I work in is a little more realistic. I'm not sure.
I will definitely put this on our 'to order list' for the fall. I think that it jumps right into the action and pulls teen readers in. I could do without the casual sex scenes, but I get the idea that Johanna is being impulsive and reckless and trying to run away from her emotional problems.