Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story

by Ingrid Ricks (Goodreads Author)

3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 · rating details · 343 ratings · 79 reviews

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

Ingrid Ricks grew up in a dysfunctional Mormon family with an absent, freewheeling dad and an intensely religious mother who was desperate to ensure her family's eternal salvation. For years she yearned to escape the suffoc...more

ebook, 244 pages

Published September 30th 2011 (first published September 28th 2011)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Memoir Lovers

6th out of 36 books — 21 voters

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Memoirs by Women

255th out of 856 books — 1,224 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 763)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 04, 2012 Jen Lepp rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: spirituality

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I liked it, but I had a few issues with the book here and there that didn't make me love it.

Ingrid Ricks has written a memoir that outlines her experiences growing up the daughter of a Mother dependent upon the Mormon Church to interpret her life, a father that comes off as an accidental con man, and the step-daughter of a man that married her mother for seemingly no other reason then to obtain a church-sanctioned slave replete with ready-made abuse victims and a religious basis for crushing the...more I liked it, but I had a few issues with the book here and there that didn't make me love it.

Ingrid Ricks has written a memoir that outlines her experiences growing up the daughter of a Mother dependent upon the Mormon Church to interpret her life, a father that comes off as an accidental con man, and the step-daughter of a man that married her mother for seemingly no other reason then to obtain a church-sanctioned slave replete with ready-made abuse victims and a religious basis for crushing the new family.

Most of the adults in this memoir had absolutely no interest in the welfare of the children, the dishonesty ran rampant through every page - the mother pretends nothing is wrong as her children are hit, the father teaches the daughter that stealing is ok as long as the bank accidentally makes a mistake in your favor, the Bishop teaches that the Church has no interest whatsoever in anything other then obedience. The books protagonist (along with her siblings) only garners some level of relief when a new Bishop arrives that actually seems to care about the misery of the family at the hands of their previously Church-sanctioned abuser, Earl - and one wonders if this family's survival really depended solely upon the luck of the Bishop draw.

To some extent, I was baffled by these "characters" - the LDS Church teaches Temple marriages are for all eternity, and yet her mother rushed in to a marriage simply to be married, and knew within days that the man she had married was a fraud and a liar and a user. Then she steps aside this man that violated the tenets from the get-go of the Church she claimed to believe in to be a wholly subservient wife, and allows the man she knows is a liar and a fraud to systematically attempt to break her children. Her few explanations for her actions in the book are a glaring omission, and leave her a mystery.

Her father's victory of beginning a multi-million dollar company eventually, finally, in the epilogue seems to give credence to how he got there - to some extent, by lying, cheating, and stealing, and refusing to support and help the family he created while buying the daughters of new women he wished to impress horses.

I found the book less uplifting then I did disturbing.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Jun 07, 2012 eNovel Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

It is 1979 and 13 year-old Ingrid was facing down her mother's new husband Earl. He was a Vietnam Vet and had been homeless for years. Now her stepfather, he was also a Mormon priesthood holder. This meant he had direct communication with God. Ingrid knew the rules; Mormon priesthood holder men had absolute authority. Even her mother couldn't overrule his decision. Ingrid wouldn't accept that, she wanted to be with her father.(Some spoilers if you continue reading.) A salesman who traveled the c...more

like 3 likes · see review

Jun 09, 2012 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars

awesome book! that guy Earl was a jerk... I can just imagine how hideous the guy looks. I love the bond Ingrid had with her daddy. definitely recommend anyone to read this book!

like 2 likes · see review

Feb 25, 2013 Gayle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobiography, non-fiction, religion, self-help, mormon

HIPPIE BOY by Ingrid Ricks

SHORT OVERVIEW: (from Ms Ricks site)

What would you do if your Mormon 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 has begged her free-wheeling dad to let her join him on the road as a tool-selling vagabond to escape the suffocating poverty and religion at home. When her devout Mormon mother married Earl―a homeless Vietnam vet who exploits the religion’s male-dominated culture to o...more

like · see review

Jul 22, 2012 McGuffy Morris rated it 5 of 5 stars

In this fast paced memoir, Ingrid Ricks tells her story of growing up and finding her own way. She tells of her broken but important relationship with her father, and of how it was this that helped her to ultimately learn how to save herself.

Ingrid's mother is a very troubled woman, who clings to the Mormon religion. She marries a homeless veteran, who is also a Mormon. Even though she is torn by this male dominated religion, she feels compelled to follow it and her abusive husband.

This memoir i...more

like · see review

Jun 27, 2012 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was my first read about a dysfunctional Mormon family and I found it interesting-because I am a social worker. Other people might find this book a tad depressing to read.

It is 1979 and 13 year-old Ingrid was facing down her mother's new husband Earl. He was a Vietnam Vet and had been homeless for years. Now her stepfather, he was also a Mormon priesthood holder. This meant he had direct communication with God. Ingrid knew the rules; Mormon priesthood holder men had absolute authority. Even...more This was my first read about a dysfunctional Mormon family and I found it interesting-because I am a social worker. Other people might find this book a tad depressing to read.

It is 1979 and 13 year-old Ingrid was facing down her mother's new husband Earl. He was a Vietnam Vet and had been homeless for years. Now her stepfather, he was also a Mormon priesthood holder. This meant he had direct communication with God. Ingrid knew the rules; Mormon priesthood holder men had absolute authority. Even her mother couldn't overrule his decision. Ingrid wouldn't accept that, she wanted to be with her father, a salesman who traveled the country and sold tools out of the trunk of his car.

Ingrid's father wasn't a good Mormon. He had been excommunicated from the church. That didn't matter. Ingrid adored and admired him, even though he had his faults and flaws. She was determined to be with him, and neither heaven nor earth would stand in her way.

Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story, is the tale of how Ingrid Ricks found her voice, and herself. Her father used to call her "Hippie Boy" because her long, knotted brown hair reminded him of the hitchhikers he picked up in the Seventies during his sales travels. The story is an interesting and revealing peek into a normal, economically-struggling Mormon family.

It wasn't an easy journey, there were many obstacles and pitfalls. Ingrid has to confront her father's failings along the way and the hero worship comes to an end. They were pulled over in Illinois for speeding, and her father arrested for an outstanding warrant regarding a bad check. When the judge order him to be extradited to Texas, that was the moment Ingrid rose up in a packed court room and yelled "No!". The judge let her father out on bail after that outburst, but it taught her to finally speak up.

I found it somewhat appalling that the family goes to church leaders for counseling and the obvious signs of abuse are overlooked. The children are told to obey Earl because he is their father and is a "good church man". I thought it unfortunate that teachers at school did not pick up on the abuse signals that were there either.

If you want to read a book that is disturbing pick this one up. I am glad that I got it for free however. I do not think that I would have paid for this book.
(less)

like · see review

May 01, 2012 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really respect the honesty and the voice of this author. I felt Ingrid's anger, humiliation, joy and disappointment with her as I read this book. It must have been a crazy, painful walk into the past for her to capture her childhood voice like she did.

I have read some other reviews and have noticed that a few seem to think that the author is attacking an entire faith. That assumption could not be further from the truth. She does not make all people of the Mormon or LDS faith to be monsters or...more

like 3 likes · see review

Feb 14, 2012 Dixie Goode rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ingrid Rick's examination of growing up in a world split between her Mother's religious rigidity, and her Dad's free wheeling life on the road is a moving, honest, gripping story which pulled me into it and didn't let me stop until the last word had been read. Because her writing is refreshingly honest and personal, I had to care about her and her siblings. She incorporates so much of the world around her, and the time period into her memoir that I almost felt like I had lived through it with he...more

like 1 like · see review

Jan 30, 2012 Angie Holtz rated it 4 of 5 stars

From Lilac Wolf and Stuff

Catchy cover - when I saw it on my Kindle...I had forgotten downloading it. But the cover grabbed me one afternoon when I was bored to tears waiting for my son's bus. And then I couldn't put it down. I wasn't expecting such a great story...and so mild.

For some reason I was expecting a really twisted, out there tale. But it was fairly vanilla. Which is good, I think teens on up can enjoy this book. Even with nothing really terrible happening, it holds your interest. Ingri...more

like · see review

Jan 25, 2012 Marjiebowker rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read Hippie Boy in two days and have since shared it with approximately 60 people - 40 of whom are my high school students (I teach at an alternative school for at-risk teens). I was so happy to find a coming-of-age book with a strong female voice and a positive, powerful message and just knew my students would connect with it strongly. I've been able to test my theory with a class set of books over the past two weeks, and my intuition was right times one hundred...my students are crazy about...more

like 2 likes · see review

Jan 24, 2012 Amanda LaPera rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’m into true stories and well-written memoirs that give me a glimpse into a life unlike my own. Hippie Boy by Ingrid Ricks is a gripping story that pulled me in from page one. Her adventures with her father are anything but carefree, as much as her character initially believes. It takes a crisis for her to come to this understanding.

The author’s rich descriptions bring the characters to life. With her vivid imagery and attention to details, I feel like I get to meet her characters in person. T...more

like · see review

Jan 16, 2012 Everett rated it 4 of 5 stars

There were things I like and disliked about this book. (I had to keep telling myself that it was a memoir, not a work of fiction.)

I didn't like, but understood, that the main character worshiped her father. He was unfaithful to his wife, turned his back on his religion and talked smack about its clergy, was a pie-in-the-sky dreamer, didn't pay the child support his ex desperately needed, and was on the road so much he hardly participate in raising his children. But, she was his favorite and most...more

like · see review

Dec 17, 2011 Suzanne Rosenwasser rated it 5 of 5 stars

In Ingrid Ricks' powerful memoir HIPPIE BOY, the adults in her childhood provide an environment that burdens the children with fear, acute asthma, religious tyranny, shifted responsibility, and devastating insecurity. The good news is: what Ricks suffered did make her stronger and hopefully her parents, who supported her retelling of their stories, learned untold lessons from their child as a result.

The author is the daughter of mismatched Mormon parents. Her mother's faith makes her run to the...more

like · see review

Nov 07, 2011 Rolando Garcia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, family

Who doesn't like stories where the protagonists overcome difficult challenges to succeed and make their dreams come true? In this world of broken dreams that is one of the purposes of fiction, to allow us to visualize a better life for ourselves, even if it may be unrealistic and beyond our grasp. But who needs fiction when you can read Ingrid Rick's true story "Hippie Boy"?

This the tale of a young girl and her siblings immersed in the maelstrom of a family that unstitches at the seams. It is ab...more Who doesn't like stories where the protagonists overcome difficult challenges to succeed and make their dreams come true? In this world of broken dreams that is one of the purposes of fiction, to allow us to visualize a better life for ourselves, even if it may be unrealistic and beyond our grasp. But who needs fiction when you can read Ingrid Rick's true story "Hippie Boy"?

This the tale of a young girl and her siblings immersed in the maelstrom of a family that unstitches at the seams. It is about dealing with poverty, about dealing with the imperfections of those entrusted to care for you, and about proving yourself by fighting, not only against the things without, but also against those that lurk within.

The book is engaging and well written. This is a memoir, and the author tells it like it is, both the good and the bad. She does not sugarcoat the shortcomings of the members of her family. I was particularly impressed by the contrast that Ingrid draws between the passages depicting the asphyxiating environment of the family home, where a an excessively devout mother permits the stepfather to employ religion as a means of control, and those describing the freedom that the author experiences when she is on the road selling tools with her dad. Reading the latter passages you actually feel the crisp cool morning air on your face as you drive down the highway with Willie Nelson on the radio singing "On the Road Again."

I agree with her father when he asks rhetorically, "This is the life, isn't it?" while relaxing in a motel room drinking sugar-free Doctor Pepper after a hard day's work. Indeed, nothing beats being your own boss, doing things your way, and making your own rules. But alas, while when you live on the edge and get the thrills, you also get the spills. In that sense Hippie Boy is also a tale of growing up and realizing you can't depend on others. You need to find your own way and your own voice, something Ingrid Ricks has achieved. This is her story.

Be it for curiosity, inspiration, entertainment, or to learn the life-lessons of "the road" I recommend you read Hippie Boy.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Jun 23, 2012 Christina (Ensconced in YA) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-request

I was fortunate enough to pick up A Little Book of Mormon stories, the autobiographical stories by Ingrid Ricks, a few months ago. Because I enjoyed those so much, the author forwarded me her book Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story.

This wonderful book is also autobiographical-- and I can't deny that a lot of the power in this novel is that this is Ingrid's true story. We are introduced to her family-- her mother that is struggling to make ends meet, her father who Ingrid worships as a child but then gro...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 12, 2012 Cammy Hunnicutt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tuff-chicks

A memoir that reads like a novel.

This tale of a girl suffering through a Mormon stepfather and, subtextually, a birth father who is almost as traumatic, doesn't read like the raft of memoirs we're being inundated with. If you didn't know it was a recounting, you could easily take if for first-person novel told in a very low-key but effective "naive voice".

Ingrid Ricks' story is certainly the stuff of YA, coming-of-age, bad 'rents novels. It even has amazing novelistic plot embellishments. Not en...more

like · see review

Dec 31, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

So I just so happen to have been re-watching the animated series of Sam Kieth's The Maxx during my occasional break from Ricks' deeply engrossing memoir, and found one line in particular from this show really summed up her book perfectly. In said scene, a depressed teen named Sara pulls a gun out on the other characters after witnessing something distressing, and as the others try to talk her down, she responds angrily with, "adults run everything and nothing works!"

I shared this exact same sen...more So I just so happen to have been re-watching the animated series of Sam Kieth's The Maxx during my occasional break from Ricks' deeply engrossing memoir, and found one line in particular from this show really summed up her book perfectly. In said scene, a depressed teen named Sara pulls a gun out on the other characters after witnessing something distressing, and as the others try to talk her down, she responds angrily with, "adults run everything and nothing works!"

I shared this exact same sentiment while reading about the highly dysfunctional adults the author was forced to deal with. Everyone from her overly religious mother, immature and volatile father, and the unabashedly backwards bishop from their Mormon church seemed to have no one's interest in mind but their own. The parts detailing the physical altercations between herself or her siblings against their odious stepfather were particularly hard to read, and I could definitely feel my blood pressure rising as I did so. I kept wanting to scream at all the adults in her life to grow the @#$^ up, strap on a pair, and start taking care of the damn kids!

Thankfully, there were also some very uplifting parts which kept this book out of misery lit territory, and kept me from pulling my hair out. I couldn't stop smiling during the author's account of acquiring her license and driving over 800 miles by herself, and the overwhelming joy and freedom she felt at that moment. Her adventures on the road with her dad served as a welcome reprieve, and I fully understand why she looked so forward to her outings with him.

While it was at times painful to read and could definitely serve as a trigger to some readers, I still highly recommend it. Ingrid's sheer tenacity and determination were a pleasure to read about, and I'm happy to find that she grew into a well-adjusted, successful and happy adult.

As a side note, I also recommend her other work entitled, "A Little Book of Mormon (and Not So Mormon) Stories", which fleshes out some of the aspects of her memoir.

(less)

like · see review

Apr 29, 2012 Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ok, in the interest of being honest, it would be really difficult for me to be completely unbiased in my assessment of this book. I met Ingrid in Seattle and have had the pleasure of grabbing coffee with her. We have a couple of mutual friends. She sent me a signed copy of this book which I possessively protect as not only a gift from someone I admire, but also for the supportive message it provides me.

So that being said, I really did like this book a lot. And my star rating is reflective of how...more Ok, in the interest of being honest, it would be really difficult for me to be completely unbiased in my assessment of this book. I met Ingrid in Seattle and have had the pleasure of grabbing coffee with her. We have a couple of mutual friends. She sent me a signed copy of this book which I possessively protect as not only a gift from someone I admire, but also for the supportive message it provides me.

So that being said, I really did like this book a lot. And my star rating is reflective of how I objectively feel about it.

It is a beautiful story about a girl growing up in a fractured family. It is primarily a story of survival. I really loved how she was able to, as an adult, go back an narrate it from her childhood point of view. There were moments in the story, like the time she and her father stayed at his saleslady's house, where as an adult you know exactly what's going on, but a child wouldn't understand why her father gets to share a comfy bed with this lady while she is stuck in a sleeping bag on the floor. Her ability to tap into those emotions, rather than viewing it with adult-minded hindsight, was inspired.

The other thing I really liked about this story was how unapologetic it was. She tells her story, and that's it. She isn't looking for pity or even understanding. I admire how she handled the disappointments just piled upon her with dignity and class beyond her years.

The last thing I want to touch upon is some of the dissenting comments about this book: namely the claims of anti-Mormon sentiment and her depiction of her mother.

First of all, I am not Mormon. And so, from that vantage I would like to just say I didn't find this book to be anti-Mormon at all. In fact, there are many characters in this book who represent the Mormon faith in a very positive way--Heather's father, Bishop Whitten, even Ingrid's mother in the end did the right thing for her family. Yes, some of the characters were horrible people (Earl), which has nothing to do with the religion. And pretty much the rest of the characters were imperfect people, which makes them just like the rest of the world, regardless of religion. No, this book is not anti-Mormon, in fact if anything, it shows that Mormons are just like everyone else, in other words, equal.

Second, I don't think Ingrid was too overly critical of her mother. I do agree with one person's comment that the mother's story would be an interesting read. I think Ingrid was doing her best, as a child, to survive in a very difficult situation. I think she has a right to be critical, as we all are of our parents (rightfully so or not). But I think throughout the book it is evident that Ingrid loved and respected her mother and knew that her mother was doing her best.

Definitely read this book! It is a great weekend read.
(less)

like · see review

Mar 10, 2012 Lahoma Gayle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished

Read this book on 2days. Enjoyed it but not what I expected. Glad I stumbled onto it. Her memoirs are truly believable. Can mirror many, many coming of age with many different circumstances. Will recommend.

like 1 like · see review

Nov 20, 2011 RYCJ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dynamic-reads

Although I thought I was familiar with the term hippie, I must say Ingrid Ricks has clearly & concisely clarified the term for me. She does a fine job bringing to life her inborn fiery spirit and drive to set her own pace in life. The thing here is, I'm almost certain, even without the suffocating environ, the hippie part came with her mold. It's written all over her voice.

I also must admit not being familiar with the Mormon religion, or culture, which exploring more on the subject was one o...more

like 1 like · see review

Jan 08, 2013 Beatnik Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...
Things seem to go from bad to worse for thirteen-year-old Ingrid when she escapes her overbearing Mormon stepfather and religious zealot mother to go on a roadtrip with her travelling salesman dad, only to discover that he is not the reliable parent she needs him to be. When he gets himself arrested, Ingrid has no one left to rely on but herself.

It sounds like a YA novel but this memoir by Ingrid Ricks is filled with heartbreak, triumph and unadorned hones...more

like · see review

Oct 03, 2012 Adriana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-own, memoir, 2012

Goodbye, Earl. As I read this book, I couldn't stop thinking about the Dixie Chicks' song with this title. It was so fitting given the description of the character Earl in this story.

I've tried for days to write a coherent review, but have found it impossible. So if I seem to ramble incoherntly, please forgive me. It's just that this story provoked so many emotions as I read (mainly anger and outrage) that I really cannot think straight.

I bought Hippie Boy thinking I was getting a novel, and it...more Goodbye, Earl. As I read this book, I couldn't stop thinking about the Dixie Chicks' song with this title. It was so fitting given the description of the character Earl in this story.

I've tried for days to write a coherent review, but have found it impossible. So if I seem to ramble incoherntly, please forgive me. It's just that this story provoked so many emotions as I read (mainly anger and outrage) that I really cannot think straight.

I bought Hippie Boy thinking I was getting a novel, and it was only after I started reading that I realized I had purchased a memoir. As this is not the first time this has happened to me, I figure I need to pay more attention when I download books onto my Kindle. No matter, though. I still enjoyed the ride.

Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story is what happens when parents let religious zeal interfere with their ability to make sound decisions and protect and care for those most precious to them. In this particular instance, the offending religion was Mormon, but having been raised Catholic myself, I can easily see the same situation occurring in a blindly devout Catholic household, or really, pretty much any religion.

Ingrid was the second oldest of five children, all of whom were subjected to years of emotional abuse at the hands of their stepfather (the above-mentioned Earl), and their mother allowed it because to do otherwise would be to dishonor her husband, the head of the family (which by the way, the older girls never accepted him as the head of the family because he was not their father - good for them!).

The older I get, the more amazed I am at how sexist religion can be (and I am not solely piling on the Mormon faith here, I am speaking from experience as a Catholic and observations of other religions). If your new husband is an ass to your children, then you need to take him out with the trash. (view spoiler)

Anyway, back to Ingrid. She and her older sister carried on a silent rebellion while they anxiously waited until they were old enough to leave home. Somehow, despite the trauma she endured during her formative years, Ms. Ricks seems to have turned out okay, which is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Okay, the incorent rambling is over. Despite (or perhaps because of) my emotionsl repsonse to this book, I do recommend it. The writing style, while not as smooth or engaging as I prefer when I read fiction, is adequate for telling the story.(less)

like · see review

Aug 10, 2012 Carol Brannigan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, e-book, er-arc

This was an interesting read. The author uses a convoluted timeline which makes the story seem disjointed at times but it doesn't take too much away from her story. It does seem like a tragic tale but it's also one of redemption to see how she used the dramatic childhood as a healing tool in her work later on. I was hoping for more on the Mormon aspect of life (although she does go into a decent amount) and how she feels about it presently but I can also understand why that was left out of focus...more

like · see review

Jul 06, 2012 Karen Toz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story is a fascinating memoir written about Author Ingrid Ricks' childhood - growing up poor and Mormon in the 70s/80s. As someone who also grew up in this time period, I felt an instant connection to Ingrid, even though my own childhood was completely different. Still – I immediately empathized with young Ingrid – cheering her accomplishments, crying over her heartache, and pulling for things to get better in her dysfunctional family.

Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story was just one...more

like 1 like · see review

Jul 07, 2012 Carol rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ricks has written a taut, tension paced book that I couldn't put down.

like 1 like · see review

Jan 16, 2012 L.B. Clark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: new-to-me-author-challenge

Hippie Boy is the autobiography of a girl who grew up in a dysfunctional Morman family. It is essentially a coming of age story. The story ends with the girl’s graduation from high school; I would have liked to have learned what became of the woman and her family without having to resort to a Google search, so that was a bit of a ‘minus’. Other than that, the book was well-written and enjoyable. The author’s style as much as the story she was recounting made me keep reading, even when I probably...more

like · see review

Apr 21, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir-biography, kindle-free-download

I really love memoirs, the stories of people, every-day people. I especially enjoyed this memoir because it I think it is a story that is, in parts, more true and common in the states than most would perhaps realize. Poverty, religious-fanaticism, broken homes and the amazing ability of children to love their fathers/mothers. Having worked in a school with the poorer students of a small town, I felt like I was offered a glimpse of their lives, the stories they couldn't express and the humanity o...more

like 1 like · see review

Jan 08, 2012 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, borrowed-from-amazon, interesting-people-and-places, just-for-fun, kindle-edition

It is really hard to search for a good book within the new Kindle lending library that Amazon offers its prime members, but I lucked out with this one. The story of a young girl overcoming the failures of her parents to grow and mature into an independent, capable young woman never gets old. It provides hope that a child can overcome an unhealthy home situation and break the cycle of dependency, poverty, and/or laziness. It is a reminder that no one has a perfect family, and we all are broken in...more

like 1 like · see review

Feb 03, 2012 Tami rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-giveaways, 2012

I haven't received my copy yet, just received notice I had won. 1/3/12
Received my copy last night, 1/9/12 and hope to get to it soon. I hae my current read plus 6 more in front of it.
Started today 2/1/12
Finished last night 2/2/12

Ingrid is growing up in the late 70's/early 80's (I am guessing with reference to clothing, hair styles, etc.) Her parents are divorced and her mother marries a man that the children can't stand. She adores her father and wants nothing more than to leave with him on his...more

like · see review

Mar 17, 2013 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars

Inspiring true story of Ingrid: a young girl who overcomes poverty, the divorce of her parents, a horrific car accident that leaves her face scarred and her mother's new creepy, freeloading abusive husband-who convinces her very religious mother that he is a priesthood-holding Mormon man and that Ingrid is possessed by Satan. Through all of this Ingrid tells her coming of age story and journey to freedom in an engaging, heart wrenching way that will have you wanting to scream at her parents to t...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 25 26 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (3)

Genres

Autobiography > Memoir

18 users

Non Fiction

14 users

Biography Memoir

5 users

Religion

5 users

Young Adult > Coming Of Age

3 users

Biography

3 users

Lds > Mormonism

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Ingrid Ricks

Ingrid Ricks started her career as a journalist, spent fifteen years as a marketing/PR consultant and is now embracing her writing/mentoring dream full-time. She is the author of Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story, a coming-of-age memoir; FOCUS, a memoir about her journey with the blinding degenerative eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa; and A Little Book of Mormon (and Not So Mormon) Stories, a collection...more

More about Ingrid Ricks...

Books by Ingrid Ricks

A Little Book of Mormon (and Not So Mormon) Stories

We Are Absolutely Not Okay: Fourteen Stories By Teenagers Who Are Picking Up the Pieces

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Hippie Boy: A Gir...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story
avg rating	preview: Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story Goodreads rating: 3.61 (343 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12884870-hippie-boy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327883647l/12884870.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12884870-hippie-boy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story by Ingrid Ricks[/url]

Hippie Boy: A Girl's Story

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website