Girls Drive Jeeps

Meet my little sister Blakely O'Connor: Blakely is 13 and has been best friends with Tamara Day since the day Blake defended Tam against the cool girls who called her ugly.

When Blakely learns that she and Tamara are heading to different high schools, she forges our mom’s signature to qualify her for Stanton High School. Our parents are divorced, and Mom is MIA most of the time, so it seems like a good plan, and I’m not about to tell on my sister. Anyway, Blakely won’t be without her best friend, and now that that’s settled, Blakely thinks her problems are solved.

Over the summer, the girls turn 14 and even meet a close-knit crew of Stanton kids while swimming at the reservoir. On Blakely’s first day of ninth grade, she already has a reputation as the freshman who threw the best party anyone had seen.

But ninth grade, as with life, can’t be so easily managed.

Told by me–Blakely’s older sister, Vanessa–this is a story of first loves, secrets, betrayals, late-night parties, found family, and road trips in jeeps.