Riding in Cars with Boys: Confessions of a Bad Girl Who Makes Good

by Beverly Donofrio

Book Overview

"Trouble began in 1963 . . . the age-old trouble." Unable to attend college, Beverly Ann Donofrio lost interest in everything but riding around in cars, drinking, smoking, and rebelling against... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140296298
• ISBN13: 9780140296297
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Quick book, lasting impression.

I was dying to read this book when i heard about the movie. I had planned on reading before i saw the movie, but it never worked out that way. As usual, the movie varies greatly from Bev's novel. This is a really quick read that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Bev is an outspoken rebelious girl who ends up pregnant the first time she has sex at the age of 17. What follows is a great story about her relationship with her family and her son. Like the sub title says, Bev was a bad girl who eventually made good. The reader finds inspiration through Bev's determination for a second chance. We see that because we screw up once does not mean we are doomed by our mistakes, but can turn our lives around and lead the life we always wanted. This is not simply a inspirational biography, but a novel with humor, quick wit, and great insight. I highly reccommend this one.

A good book about a girl in "trouble"

I was in the bookstore looking for a book to keep me busy. Drew Barrymore is one of my favorite actresses and seeing her on the cover is what inspired me to read the book. I hadn't seen the movie so I didn't really have a good idea of what to expect.I'm really glad I read this book. It was quick, easy to read, and very interesting. It's about a girl who gets pregnant in high school, leading her to marriage and a family. I had a couple of friends that had babies in high school and it was NOT easy for them. Beverly is not your typical mother, but she seems to be a good one. She really cares for her son and they develop a close relationship. In the course of the book you really see Beverly grow: getting rid of her scumbag husband, getting an education, and following her dream of becoming a writer. Although her family tends to criticize her, there is no doubt that they love her; and it is great to see her relationship with them evolve.

A Life Ruined or Enriched...

Beverly Donofrio has written a touching memoir of her life as a teen parent. She shares her struggles, feelings, and hopes for the future. Riding in Cars With Boys, is a candid look at parenting through a teens eye. Donofrio does not have a 'typical' relationship with her son, Jason. Beverly, a mother before her time, was by most accounts, wild, reckless and a haphazard parent. In her true essence, Beverly did everything in excess: drugs, alcohol, sex, and rebellion! Motherhood was a curse for Beverly; she could barely look after herself, let alone a child. Jason was often dirty, neglected, and left to his own devices. However, an important question must be raised; how did Beverly and Jason survive?Amidst the chaos and confusion there was a great bond forged between Jason and Beverly. A traditional parent-child relationship...no, a relationship with love...yes. Riding in Cars With Boys takes the reader on Donofrio's path through motherhood and discovering that her life was not ruined, rather enriched.

It's all about family

Engrossing autobiography and quick read about a woman who grows up while raising her son. This well-written book is not only about the author's journey as a mother, but also about her maturing relationship with her strict Italian parents. Donofrio writes candidly about her teenage pregnancy and how it impacted her relationships and life goals (such as pursuing a college education). She does not shy away from her mistakes, recalling freely the impact that her self-indulgent hippie days had on her young son. Yet she allows readers to view her story through their own moral lenses. Interesting account of a rugged individual doing her best with the hand she was dealt.