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A road-trip out of crazy: “Hippie Boy,” by Ingrid Ricks

chanson, November 26, 2011November 26, 2011

Dad was a master salesman who could talk anyone into anything, and life on the road with him was the wildest adventure any kid could possibly imagine. Unfortunately, since he was often unreliable and occasionally violent, it wasn’t always the good kind of adventure — but it was a great escape from a home run by a crazy (and also occasionally violent) control-freak of a step-dad, who reeked of the meat that made up his entire food pyramid. That’s the world of teenaged Ingrid Ricks in the story Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story.

The fact that her family is Mormon is important for the story, yet Ricks does an exceptional job of keeping Mormonism as the background setting instead of focusing the camera on Mormonism itself. It shouldn’t be exceptional, but when the events of a story rely heavily on things that are peculiar to Mormonism, there’s a great temptation for the author to put his/her arm around the reader’s shoulder and say, “Let me tell you what Mormonism is like…” Or to write a story that is self-consciously dripping with Mormonisms. Ricks succeeds at making the Mormon themes clear without shoving Mormonism in your face.

The most Mormon-specific aspect of the story is the mother’s fervent belief that she needs to rely on priesthood authorities to make her most important life decisions for her. No matter how much bad advice she gets (and acts on), she has a terrible time letting go of the belief that the advice must a priori be good advice that comes from God. This point reminded me quite a bit of Emily Pearson’s story Dancing with Crazy. But one interesting part of Ingrid Ricks’ story is that you see that the priesthood leaders’ advice isn’t always bad. Ingrid’s mom makes some harmful decisions — based on massively bad advice from the first bishop in the story — but the second bishop helps solve their problems (with the assistance of Ingrid’s older sister Connie, who engineers the flow of good advice). The second bishop also gives good advice to Ingrid, and the cool part is seeing her learn to analyze that advice herself, and decide what is the best course of action for herself and her family.

This is one of the most successful bildungsromans I’ve ever read. It’s clear to the reader from the beginning that the family has some pretty dysfunctional parenting. But it’s also clear that the young Ingrid views her parents with the eyes of a child who has never known anything else. Her (often absent) father, in particular, is a larger-than-life figure for her. Through the course of the story, she learns to see both of her parents in a more realistic light — as people who actually weren’t doing too badly, considering the major demons they were battling themselves. And it’s inspiring to see Ingrid and Connie take charge of their own lives (even as teens) and grow up healthy and sane, climbing the obstacles strewn in their path. I hate to use a clich like “triumph of the human spirit,” but at least I’ll say it kind of reminded me of this Suzanne Vega poem:

Kids will grow like weeds on a fence
She says they look for the light they try to make sense.
They come up through the cracks
Like grass on the tracks

If you’re looking for an entertaining adventure that’s more than just fluff, pick up a copy of Hippie Boy!!

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Comments (17)

  1. Ingrid Ricks says:
    November 26, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    Carol,

    Thank you for this incredible review of Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story. You captured it so well I’m going to refer people to this blog post whenever people ask what the book is about.

    Thank you.

    Best,
    Ingrid

  2. chanson says:
    November 26, 2011 at 12:22 pm

    Glad you like it! As I’ve said, I’m interested in this genre, so I’m always happy to stumble upon (and promote) excellent work like yours!! I hope lots of people will read your book!!

    (Also, I love exclamation points!! — sorry 😉 )

  3. Laura Novak says:
    November 26, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    I loved this book from start to finish. Not only is it a page turner, but it is a coming of age story told with brutal honesty, innocence and hope. Ingrid Ricks keeps the story moving at quite a clip and it’s heart breaking to read how her child self believes in a man who was larger than life, but so unreliable. Her mother could tug at the reader’s heart, but she also left me angry that she didn’t do more. But Ingrid doesn’t pull punches or take sides. Nor does she judge. Her parents were who they were in the context of a religion. What is so wonderful and makes this book a “must read” for any teenager, is Ingrid’s spirt and triumph. She wins in the end, and so do we just for reading her brave story.

  4. chanson says:
    November 26, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    Her mother could tug at the readers heart, but she also left me angry that she didnt do more. But Ingrid doesnt pull punches or take sides. Nor does she judge. Her parents were who they were in the context of a religion.

    That is so true, and it’s one of the impressive aspects of this amazing story.

  5. Alan says:
    November 26, 2011 at 1:30 pm

    From Ricks’ about page:

    Shortly before my 43rd birthday, the two of them [her daughters] were joking around and decided to do a parody of me as an old woman. They bent over, pretended like they were walking with a cane, and in the most crotchety voice they could muster, they both shouted, My book, my book. I have to finish my book!

    My husband and daughters burst into laughter. I bit my lip to keep from crying.

    That is soooo sad!!

    But…there’s a happy ending.

  6. suzanne says:
    November 26, 2011 at 2:49 pm

    A story for kids from every type of dysfunctional family, regardless of race or creed. Bravo, Ms. Ricks.

  7. Ingrid Ricks says:
    November 26, 2011 at 3:22 pm

    Alan – Thank you for visiting my “about” page and sharing part my background story. No question about it…my daughters taught me the importance of setting the right example by going after my dreams — and I’ll never forget that lesson.

    Laura and Carol – Thanks for that. I really didn’t want this to be a story about judging or grudges. I always viewed Hippie Boy as a story about hope and resilience — though I did want to shine the spotlight on the damage that can occur when any sort of religious doctrine is take to the extreme and folded blindly.

    And Suzanne – thank you.. I’ve been meaning to tell you that an English teacher from an alternative high school wants to teach Hippie Boy in her class and enter an author partnership with me. So reminds me of you and your work.

  8. Marlene Dunham says:
    November 26, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    I loved this book. yes, everyone who had any type of dysfunctional family life can relate, as well as anyone who had any type of “cult” experience. It is so heartening to see these girls make it out on the other side so successfully. Congratulations Ingrid on your success.

  9. wry says:
    December 1, 2011 at 7:00 am

    Loved it! Really did. I haven’t liked a book that much in a long time.

  10. Ingrid says:
    December 2, 2011 at 12:28 pm

    Thank you, Wry!!!

  11. Pingback: Hurting Relationships: Sophia L. Stone’s “Mormon Diaries” » Main Street Plaza
  12. dadsprimalscream says:
    June 16, 2013 at 3:42 pm

    I loves me a good memoir or biography! I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the review

  13. Holly says:
    June 16, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    I’m just thrilled that the book is doing so well–especially so long after it was initially published! Clearly you’re doing many, many things well with this book, Ingrid! Congratulations.

  14. writerfriend says:
    June 16, 2013 at 10:34 pm

    Looking forward to reading this! Congrats on making the list.

  15. Sharisse says:
    June 17, 2013 at 12:05 am

    Congrats to Ingrid for making it to the top sellers list!

  16. Mer says:
    June 20, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    I was raised in the mainstream Mormon church but left over 10 yrs ago. This book sounds intriguing. Can’t wait to read it.

  17. hlthy1 says:
    June 20, 2013 at 8:22 pm

    It sounds like a great story–I look forward to reading it!

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