Mare’s War, by Tanita S. Davis

She wears high heels, a pushup bra, drinks bourbon with lemon, and drives her sporty red car like a “bat out of hell.” Grandma Mare is definitely NOT your average grandma! And this summer her granddaughters Tali and Octavia will find themselves driving cross country with her on their way to a family reunion. They quickly strike a bargain: the girls won’t plug themselves into their radios if Mare doesn’t smoke. Taking advantage of the silence in the car, Mare then begins to tell the girls her life story . . . .

This is an exciting read! Mare helps her sister and herself escape her mother’s lecherous boyfriend, followed by her quickly joining an African-American regiment in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. The narrative switches between her early life adventures, and their modern-day cross country trip, so you don’t get bored.