Kathy Dobie Knihy

"This is a story of a young girl - the oldest daughter in a Catholic family of six children, with a rebelious older brother, an exhausted mother whose attention Kathy craves, and a glamorous father whom she idolises - struggling to find her proper place in the world. In the spring of her 14th year suddenly 'the earth blossomed with men and boys... they were everywhere', and Kathy sees her path towards power and freedom. Bur girls who break the rules in small towns like hers are expected to pay a high price for their transgressions, and Kathy soon learns the rpice. How she stepped out of that car forever altered, but not forever damaged, and how she learned to fight back after being labelled as a slut, insulted and ostrcised in her own neighbourhood, is also part of her story. Always aware that her ambitions were bigger and more complicated that the suburbs she grew up in, Kathy was determined to come through and to transform her life."

Set against the backdrop of the 1970s, this memoir explores the author's journey as a young woman navigating a male-dominated world. It delves into themes of identity, independence, and the complexities of family dynamics. Through vivid storytelling, the author recounts her experiences, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she faced while pursuing her passion for driving and self-discovery. The narrative is both personal and relatable, offering insights into the societal expectations of the time and the quest for autonomy.