"A hustler dad. An abusive stepfather. A suffocating religious home life. And a girl determined to break free.
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.
In her gripping NYT-bestselling memoir, Ingrid Ricks takes readers into a tumultuous home life riddled with poverty, oppression and the suffocating brand of Mormon religion she is desperate to escape. Her chance finally comes when she begins hitting the road with her freewheeling dad, traveling throughout the Midwest, selling tools and hanging around with the men on his shady revolving sales crew. It feels like freedom from her controlling mother and cruel, authoritarian stepfather. But it comes with its own disappointments and dysfunctions, and she soon learns the lesson that will change her life: she can't look to others to save her, she has to save herself.
Praise for Hippie Boy
'[Ricks] adeptly captures a dysfunctional relationship that's steeped in love... Well written and heartbreaking.' - Publishers Weekly
'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
'A soft-spoken yet resounding reminder of the power plays tied to religion.' - Booklist
'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"
"From the Author of the New York Times bestseller Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story
'A strong addition to any contemporary memoir collection.' - Midwest Book Review
At the age of 37, Ingrid Ricks walked into an eye doctor's office expecting to walk outt with a cute pair of red cat-eye frames--only to learn she suffered from Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare, incurable eye disease that was stealing her eyesight and would eventually leave her completely blind.
Gripped with the terrifying fear that she wouldn't be able to see her two young daughters grow up, would become a burden to her husband, and would lose the career and independence that defines her, Ingrid embarks on a quest to fix her eyes that ends up fixing her life.
Through an eight-year journey marked by a trip to South Africa to write about AIDS orphans, a four-day visit with a doctor who focuses on whole-body health, a relationship-changing confrontation with her husband and a life-changing lesson from her daughters, Ingrid learns to embrace the moment and see what counts in life—something no amount of vision loss can take from her."
"From the Author of the New York Times bestseller Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story
What would you do if you learned you were going blind?
In her gripping memoir, Ingrid takes readers into her world as she grapples with the devastating news that an incurable blinding eye disease is eating away at her vision. Terrified that she will miss out on her daughters’ lives, become a burden to her husband and lose the career and independence that defines her, Ingrid, a thirty-seven-year-old journalist and mother of two, embarks on a quest to save her sight. Through her journey, she learns to focus on the Now, go after her dreams and see what really counts—something no amount of vision loss can take from her."
Join our community for the latest bookish news, reading recommendations, exclusive opening extracts, author events and competitions. It\'s all free. And enter a monthly draw to win a £50 Gift Card. See past winners here
