Review: The Accident by Kate Hendrick

A rainy night. A car crash.
After the accident Sarah moves to a new school. A new place where no one knows what happened to her or her brother, where she doesn't have to deal with the history that's pulling the rest of her family apart.
Will is keeping his head down at home, just trying to get by. Then his sister Lauren comes back, as caustic as always but somehow changed. Will doesn't know what upheaval brought her home. But it's sparking some serious change in his life too.
Eliat's got no mother of her own, and she's way too young to be one. Looking after a two-year-old, trying to finish school. Sometimes all that keeps her sane is partying as hard and fast as she can. Now the pressure's building and Eliat just wants to get away.
Just get into a car and drive.
In this impressive and beautifully written debut, Kate Hendrick sets the butterfly effect in motion. The moving stories of three teenagers going through crucial changes show how random actions acquire significance. How one pivotal moment could transform your life and you might never know; how what you do matters.

Publication date: November 11, 2014 by Text Publishing Company (originally published June 16, 2013)
Genre: Young Adult

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received an ARC from Text Publishing company via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is November 11, 2014 however it appears to be a re-release.

This book took a little while to get use to. It is told from the point of view of three different teenagers in three different time frames...before, after and later. The time frames revolve around the "accident" that the reader knows little about but learns of as the story progresses. Normally I really like this style of writing but I found it to be a little confusing at first.

Ultimately it is a story of how actions and events shape the lives of three different people and the people in their lives. Although not previously connected, one event can dramatically change and impact the lives of numerous other people. It is a story about growth, understanding and figuring out where and how your life will lead you.

I liked the story and enjoyed seeing how each character evolved but I did find it a little slow. I fear that young readers will find it a little boring particularly Will's story. Although I understood and appreciated the message that was being conveyed, I'm unsure all reader will. It was a beautiful story but I feel it lacked something (although I don't know what) that would show the true beauty of it. Perhaps if the accident was at the beginning of the story instead of at the end? I don't know.

This is Hendrick's first novel and I look forward to seeing what she comes out with next.

About the Author

Kate Hendrick is a high school teacher and creative jack-of-all trades, with interests in art, design, photography, writing and anything DIY, especially if it involves power tools. She and her husband live in Sydney, Australia, with their young daughter. The Accident is her first novel.