The Accident

by Kate Hendrick

[Kelly]

3.5 Stars
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2013/11/the-accident-by-kate-hendrick.html
The Accident is a realistic view of the lives of the average teen and what the ensure each day. Eliat is a teen mother, who takes the emotional and and financial support of her foster parents for granted. She's selfish and at first I didn't realise that she was a single mother, her free and easy lifestyle seemingly ruined by Tash. Yet she won't allow her foster parents to raise her, and resents Rose Marie for being a responsible guardian. Will is the quiet achiever, a lover of literature and has just begun seeing his neighbour Kayla in a new light, and Sarah, who's life changed dramatically after the accident, is learning to cope without her brother. Three teens from different worlds, all changed.

It was beautifully written, raw and honest and the vast majority of young adult will be able to relate to the issues all three face. The storyline beautifully woven and connects the three main characters in one way or another and told from before, after and later, surrounding the accident. It felt confusing to begin with, as each chapter is told from a different point of view without stating which character it is. It's only as the story unfolds that you can recognise each one. Readers should make note of which character has the before, after and later points of view, as it will make for an easier read.

Tash left me heartbroken and I found the little girl's plight devastating. Eliat's lifestyle is confronting and readers will more than likely be affected by her story more so than Will and Sarah combined. A clever debut about what life throws at us, but it's the choices we make that makes the difference.