Girls Get In The Driver’s Seat

Okay, I just to have say that I love what they’re doing over there at Zest Books! Their books for teens are fun, gorgeous, and original, and their latest title, by Erika Stalder is no exception.

In The Driver’s Seat gives teen girls everything they need to know about buying and insuring a car, fixing minor problems (from fixing fuses to changing an air filter), choosing a mechanic, understanding what’s under the hood, and surviving emergency driving situations. I especially love the CAR RX chart in the book, which basically tells you what might be going on depending on the symptom, and what to do about it.

Let’s face it – knowledge is power. Growing up with a dad who rebuilt Corvairs (rad cars from the 60s) in our garage, I’ve spent lots of time tinkering with engines and doing pre-paint sanding. Heck, I was the only girl of my college friends who knew how to check a spark plug. I loved feeling like I could fix my car by myself. And I still love knowing that no mechanic will be able to pull a fast one on me because for the most part, I know my stuff.

For too many girls and women, mechanical car issues are a big mystery. Well, car owning and maintenance isn’t rocket science. And in this book, Erika Stalder breaks it all down for us in an entertaining, readable way. Well done!