Book Review: Rebels By Accident by Patricia Dunn

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Rebels By Accident
Author: Patricia Dunn
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Released: December 2, 2014
Review Source: Sourcebooks Fire | Netgalley

A Troubled Teen Sent to Cairo Finds Revolution is Everywhere, Including in Ourselves

When my first party ends in jail, I think things can’t possibly get worse. But then my parents send me to my grandmother in Cairo, and I’m sure my life is over. My sittu is Darth Vader’s evil sister, and I’m sure the only sites I’ll get to see in Egypt are the rooms in her apartment.

Turns out she’s not so bad. We ride camels by the pyramids and ice skate at a mall.

As Sittu says, “Sometimes a moment can change your life.” But it can change the life of a country too. When a girl named Asmaa calls the people of Egypt to protest, I find myself in the middle of a revolution, running from tear gas and guns.

Oh yeah, and I meet the cutest guy I’ve ever seen. Fall in love for the first time. And have my first kiss.

There are not enough words to describe this book, but I guess I will try...How about awesome? Fabulous? Mind-blowing? Can you tell I really liked this book?

First, I loved this book because of the setting. I've never been to Egypt, but I really felt like I was there touring the pyramids and riding on the back of a camel. Dunn did a great job pulling in the Egyptian culture as well, without making it too touristy. As a reader, you were able to see so much more of the country by pulling in the language and culture. Sometimes authors who try and write in other countries or have characters who are diverse, it ends up being forced. But with Rebels by Accident, it flowed really well and nothing stuck out and not believable.

Second, the characters Deanna and Mariam were awesome. My best friend since the first grade is named Mariam, so it was fun to see her name in a book. I think that Dunn did a great job in characterization. The friends mirrored each other perfectly. Where Mariam was shy, Deanna took control. Where Deanna didn't feel sure of herself, Mariam was there to make her feel better. They even fought like best friends would! Mariam's grandmother, or Sittu, was also a very lovable character. You could really tell she loved her granddaughter.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to my middle school students and feel comfortable with them reading it. I would also recommend it to the older readers as well.