About the Author
Beverly Donofrios first memoir, Riding in Cars with Boys, has been translated into sixteen languages and made into a popular motion picture. Her second memoir, Looking for Mary, began as a documentary on NPR and was chosen as a Discover Book at Barnes & Noble. She lived for four years as a lay Carmelite at Nada Hermitage in Colorado, where she began her third memoir, Astonished. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University.
--This text refers to the audioCD edition. From Library Journal
Donofrio's poignant 1960s memoir features the silent majority of teenagers and young people who didn't protest or go to Vietnam or attend the Summer of Love, but who did what teens do no matter how turbulent the times: they have sex, rebel, hang out, drink, smoke, and just generally try to have as good a time as possible. That's what Donofrio did, at least until she got pregnant before graduating from high school, was married (briefly) and divorced, and ended up rearing a small son alone and on welfare. Today she has a master's degree, lives in New York City, has raised a son without visible scars, and is a writer. Donofrio's funny, heartwarming story will especially appeal to every similar child of the 1960s who, despite barriers and a lack of encouragement, safely made the passage to adulthood. Reminiscent in style and content (though covering different eras) of Betsy Israel's Grown-up Fast: A True Story of Teenage Life in Suburban America (Poseidon, 1988). Highly recommended.
- Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Cty. Free Lib., Seaside, Cal.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Donofrio, a rebellious policeman's daughter, details her promiscuity and drug abuse, early pregnancy and brief marriage, and eventual success as a freelance journalist. "In this humor-flecked, street-side view of her unconventional life, Donofrio . . . writes about a mother and her son coming of age together," said PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the paperback edition. Review
Beverly Donofrio portrays a world of babies having babies and children raising children. She acknowledges right away that she's not a conventional mother, that she and her son Jason don't have a traditional home life. She was seventeen when Jason was born and they spent eight of the next ten years on welfare. A spunky, spirited woman with a defiant streak, she wages a constant struggle with herself: is Jason an anchor pulling her down or does he provide ballast? At times he seems to grow in spite of her. Her love for him isn't in question, but will she ever be able to comprehend his needs? Motherhood is never easy, but hers was made more difficult by a society ready to cast judgment on young, single mothers, by a family who finds it easier to criticize than support her, and her own struggle to reach a long held dream of a college education. As Beverly's sense of self increases and she realizes her goals, Jason challenges and contributes to her understanding of life and their growth together. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Holly Smith --This text refers to the paperback edition.
