Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story

By Ingrid Ricks

ISBN# 9780425274002

Author’s Website: http://ingridricks.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Valerie

Synopsis:

Discover the unforgettable New York Times bestselling memoir about growing up in a dysfunctional Mormon family–and finding escape, adventure, and hard-earned wisdom on the road…

What would you do if your stepfather pinned you down and tried to cast Satan out of you? For thirteen-year-old Ingrid, the answer is simple: RUN.

For years Ingrid Ricks yearned to escape the poverty and the suffocating brand of Mormon religion that oppressed her at home. Her chance came when she was thirteen and took a trip with her divorced dad, traveling throughout the Midwest, selling tools and hanging around with the men on his shady revolving sales crew. It felt like freedom from her controlling mother and cruel, authoritarian stepfather—but it came with its own disappointments and dysfunctions, and she would soon learn a lesson that would change her life: she can’t look to others to save her; she has to save herself.(Goodreads)

Review:

At the very least, Hippie Boy caught me off guard. It’s not often that I read memoirs or non-fiction. When I do, the book typically isn’t about the extremes of the Mormon religion. That being said, Hippie Boy is an interesting read that truly captures the differences in the human spirit.

As Ingrid grows older, she doesn’t necessarily mature. Of course, what do you expect from a teenager? I found her personal development really intriguing. She’s a really interesting character who hasn’t yet found the courage to stand up, yet she can make a living selling tools off the street. While she can’t fit in a normal school, she’s fine living in the “wild”, aka in a car with her dad.

Ingrid’s stepfather is truly a piece of work. I was rendered speechless by his actions under the name of Mormonism. Not only is he extreme, but he’s also  heartless and self-absorbed. He’s the cause of the problems in Ingrid’s household. Basically, he’s worth reading about?

I don’t know.

Whether or not you’ll enjoy Hippie Boy depends on your personal taste as a reader. I can’t say I enjoyed Hippie Boy. However, I can say that I found it interesting and intriguing. Hippie Boy will have its lovers. I’m just not one of them.