Favourite Pages: Bloomsbury YA

Accidental

by Alex Richards
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Release Date: July 7th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

Synopsis:

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.

I am a young adult novelist–ACCIDENTAL (Bloomsbury 2020), and Back Talk (Flux 2007)–and regular contributor to Momtastic and Real Simple.

In addition to writing, you could also call me a dabbler. I’ve dabbled in photography, film, theater, television, and my husband and I have been known to make no-budget horror flicks in our spare time. I love movies, cooking, decoupage, yoga, good bands, ice cream cake, and almost anything cheesy (from pizza to Pretty in Pink).

I grew up in Santa Fe, NM but relocated to New York for college and subsequently, life. I live in Brooklyn with my husband, 2 cats, and our 2 fantastically remarkable kids. We love exploring the nooks and crannies of this great city, dancing in the dark, and huggling.