Life in the Passenger Seat

By Amanda Zieba

For readers who love emotional coming-of-age stories, underdog sports drama, and fierce teen girls fighting for their future.

Shelby has spent her life moving from place to place in her mom's classic Mustang, always one eviction away from starting over. But when they run out of gas in Michigan, Shelby finally gets a taste of something she's never had: stability. She joins a gymnastics team, starts making friends, and falls in love with a routine of regularity.

Then her mom disappears--again--and Shelby is placed in foster care with her coach and his wife. These days, her biggest trouble is fighting for her spot in the line-up. But when her mom suddenly reappears, Shelby must confront the fact that she's just a passenger in her own life, and that perhaps it's time to take the wheel.

Perfect for fans of realistic YA fiction, foster care stories, sports novels for teens, and books for teen girls 14-18.

Includes expert back matter from NFL player Alec Ingold and a collegiate sports psychologist.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 164343490X
• ISBN13: 9781643434902
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Beaver's Pond Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

A must read underdog story!

Life in the Passenger Seat by Amanda Zieba is an absolutely stunning read—one of those rare books that’s both entertaining and deeply meaningful. Perfect for middle schoolers through adults, it resonates with sports fans, teachers, parents, car lovers, gymnasts, and those with experience in foster care or unconventional families. This story hooks you from the start. You’ll laugh, cry, and cheer as you follow Shelby—a strong, real, and relatable protagonist—on her journey. Her struggles feel authentic, and her resilience shines through. It’s a believable underdog story, one that reminds us that everyone is carrying something you can’t always see. One of the things I loved most is the complex portrayal of Shelby’s mom, Gina. Despite some heartbreaking and harmful choices, the story never turns her into a villain. Instead, it shows the complicated love between parent and child in a raw and respectful way. This book is a page-turner packed with emotion and important life lessons, but it never feels preachy. It’s simply a beautiful, honest story that stays with you long after the final page.