Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story

(Paperback)

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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.

Reviews

A soft-spoken yet resounding reminder of the power plays tied to religion...Ricks voice is true, and her prose has a poised confidence missing from the repertoires of many established authors.Booklist

A stunning masterpiece...Though this is a memoir, it reads like a fictional story, with all the necessary literary elements including conflict, religious strife and character arcs. Brilliant, emotional...you feel empowered and inspired when you reach the last page.eNovelReviews.com

"In clear, graceful prose and in a voice that is refreshingly authentic, Ricks tells an uplifting story of heartbreak, hope and self-salvation."--Kirkus Reviews

"The story reads like a novel even though it is an autobiographical account. Ricks' strength to overcome despite desperate odds will likely inspire readers with a desire to do the same."--Deseret News

"[Ricks] adeptly captures a dysfunctional relationship that's steeped in love...Well written and heartbreaking."--Publishers Weekly

"Most touching is what the author takes from the experience: the value of forgiveness, which is always the first step to freedom."--Seattle Weekly

Ricks writing is easy and engaging, and her details are sharpReaders will likely find her story empowering and inspiring and will cheer for her happy ending.The Bust

Author Bio

Ingrid Ricks is also the author of Focus, a memoir about retinitis pigmentosa, and A Little Book of Mormon (and Not So Mormon) Stories. She co-launched WeAreAbsolutelyNotOkay.org, a nationally recognized mentoring/publishing program for at-risk teens. Her essays and stories have been published in Salon, Ladies Home Journal, and The Advocate, among others.