Rebels By Accident review by Patricia Dunn ( @SheWrites )

Title: Rebels By Accident
Rating:  ★★★★★
Author: Patricia Dunn
Genre: YA/Romance/Coming of Age/Family
Release Date: August 16, 2012

Review:
Mariam lives in the states with her protective mother a baba (father) who are very over protective. What happens when over protective parents do not let their children do anything? They begin to rebel. The story starts out with Mariam and Deanna at a high school party, hoping to fit in. Mariam is Muslim and Egyptian. She’s always being teased and never stands up for herself. Her best friend, Deanna (who I think all females can take a few notes from!) has a muscle disorder in her face, causing her to never show emotion. Deanna is a tough girl and stands up for Mariam, a lot. Back to our party. Mariam and Deanna find themselves having a great time, finally letting lose… at least that is until the police show up and bust the party. Deanna’s mother and Mariam’s family agree to send the girls to Egypt, against Mariam’s wishes, to go live with her Sittu (grandmother). From the stories Baba has told Mariam, Sittu may as well be the devil herself.
Making their way through the airport of Egypt they befriend an American Egyptian who talks to them about customs, police security and how being American in Egypt has it’s advantages. Sittu finds the girls and the whirlwind experience begins.
During their stay in Egypt, Sittu takes the girls to the Pyramids, which Mariam is completely scared of heights and on a camel ride. During their stay they begin hearing tales about why and how Baba came to the United States, a revolution taking place in Egypt and let’s throw in a few hot boys who take the girls out.
Deanna begins to insist they help in the demonstration, however, Mariam does not want to have any part of it. She may be Egyptian but she is American and this is not her fight… or is it?
This is a MUST READ story and I cannot express this enough! This whirlwind adventure is a page turner and you will NOT put it down! I found myself giggling at a few parts and shedding a few tears. Sometimes you wanted to reach in and smack Mariam around and ask “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU GIRL?”
On a side note, last year when Egypt was freed I found myself thinking back to the news reports to the people on the streets cheering and celebrating. The story is completely moving. Please, go read this story!

Summary:
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.”

Book Trailer

Video Interview