The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson - Paige Toon

Paige Toon has recently released her first young adult book and I, of course, as a huge fan of Paige Toon and her wonderful writing, must write about the awesome read that is The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson. 

Jessie's life changed in a heart-breaking instant. Grieving and confused, Jessie goes off the rails while her stepdad tries to discipline her but feels helpless. Soon, Jessie finds herself in another world after her stepdad reveals that he knows who her real dad is... the rock star Johnny Jefferson. Things get awesome, crazy and just that bit more confusing.

I feel like I need to start this review by saying this: The fact that it was young adult fiction didn't faze me at all. I enjoyed it all the same - and realised a craving to go back to that awesome section of the bookshop. Young adult fiction rocks. Paige Toon portrayed a young fifteen year old girl's thoughts in a believable and enjoyable way and I loved going through her adventure alongside Jessie.
 

Jessie is awesome. Although with many lessons to learn throughout the novel, I adore that she is almost always honest with herself - and when she's not (for example, about her feelings towards a good friend she has drifted from), she knows it. Despite seeming stubborn, her want for a relationship with her real father is lovely to read about and when he returns the want to get to know her, my heart is happy.

 

The storyline is very exciting and also sweet. Not only does Paige mention McFly (a lot of brownie points are heading your way, Paige!), but she leaves us in that dilemma that makes my heart hurt: Tom or Jack. There's also another dilemma: Jessie soon has a life in England and America. I'm glad about Jessie's realisation of her need for Stu but I'm also ecstatic that she gets on wonderfully with her new family.

There are a couple of relationships that mean a lot to me from this novel. There is the relationship between Jessie and her stepdad, Stu. He obviously cares and loves Jessie in never ending bucket-fulls and, despite Jessie's rejection of a father-daughter-like relationship, it's made clear that she loves him too. As well as her friendship with Libby, I adore the relationship that is formed between Johnny and Jessie. It's sweet and compelling to read about.

I want to write a short but very important paragraph about my favourite quote from the novel: "...but I know better than to let my pride get in the way of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies."

The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson is a fabulous read.

Inflatable Toys & Dodgems,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

P.S. My Q&A with Paige Toon can be found HERE!