Riding Freedom

by Pam Muñoz Ryan Narrated by Melissa Hughes

Overview

Charlotte Parkhurst was raised in an orphanage for boys, which suited her just fine. She didn't like playing with dolls, she could hold her own in a fight, and she loved to work in the stable. Charlotte had a special way with horses and wanted to spend her life training and riding them on a ranch of her own. The problem was, as a girl in the mid-1800s, Charlotte was expected to live a much different life-one without the freedoms she dreamed of. But Charlotte was smart and determined, and she figured out a way to live her life the way she wanted. Charlotte became an expert horse rider, a legendary stagecoach driver, and the first woman ever to vote. And she did these things at a time when they were outlawed for women. How? With a plan so clever and so secret-almost no one figured it out.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The true story of Charlotte "Charley" Darkey Parkhurst, a woman who lived her life disguised as a man so she could be a stagecoach driver, is the basis for this ebullient and tautly structured novel. Charlotte, a girl who "couldn't sew a stitch and didn't know a petticoat from a pea pod," does have a deep respect and a sixth sense for horses. When the head of her New Hampshire orphanage tells her she's banned from riding because she's a girl, she disguises herself as a boy, runs away to Worcester, Mass., and secures a job as Mr. Ebeneezer's stable hand. He takes "Charley" under his wing, teaching her to be the finest horseman and the best coachman in the state. As she guides her coach across the countryside, she tells her passengers, "I know my horses by heart and I'm not one for bad drivin', so hold tight!" Along the way, she encounters a wealth of characters, some good (Hay, her orphan friend; Vern, a freedman who tends the orphanage stables) and some bad (Mr. Millshark, the orphanage head), but all fully realized by Muoz (Armadillos Sleep in Dugouts). Eventually, the heroine moves West, suffers a blow to her left eye that earns her the name "One-Eyed Charley," realizes her dream of owning her own property and, still disguised as a man, votes in the 1868 California presidential electionnow recognized as the first woman ever to vote in the U.S. With a pacing that moves along at a gallop, this is a skillful execution of a fascinating historical tale. Selznick's drawings, which have an "American Gothic" feel, highlight the dramatic moments. Ages 8-12. (Feb.)

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6This fictionalized biography of the first woman to vote in the state of California, and perhaps in the whole United States, is fascinating. Charlotte Parkhurst, known as Charley, spent most of her life masquerading as a man. Raised in an orphanage where she is the only girl, she is prevented from being adopted by the staff, who put her to work in the kitchen. Her own predilection is to be with the horses and the elderly man who cares for them. Vern's tales of escaping slavery are the seeds of Charlotte's own desperate bid for freedom after her only other friend is adopted. Her knack with horses soon enables the disguised Charley to pursue her dream of driving a stagecoach. She does it so well that she is admired and sought after, and is offered the opportunity to earn a livelihood in the California gold fields. Many trials arise, including the loss of sight in her left eye, but throughout, Charlotte remembers her friends, works hard and persistently, and fulfills her ambitions, culminating in her voting in a presidential election. The author provides a compact and exciting story about real people who exemplify traits that readers admire. A concluding note tells more about the historical facts surrounding Parkhurst's life, but kids will read it just for the adventure. The full-page, black-and-white pencil drawings are well rendered and enhance the straightforward text.Carol A. Edwards, Minneapolis Public Library

From the Publisher

"With a pacing that moves along at a gallop, this is a skillful execution of a fascinating historical tale." –Publishers Weekly, starred review"Middle-schoolers will love the horse adventures and the stories of her trickery…" —Booklist"Youngsters who liked Caddie Woodlawn better unreformed and who appreciate an atmospheric blend of grit, gorses, and history will want to take a ride with Charley." –Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

DECEMBER 2009 - AudioFile

Narrator Melissa Hughes captures the spirit and determination of heroine Charlotte Parkhurst. This fictionalized account of a real girl growing up in the 1800s to become a renowned horsewoman and stagecoach driver resonates with pluck and can-do spirit. You just know as you listen to Hughes’s portrayal of this cheerful character that whatever hardships knock her down, Charlotte will pick herself up and find another way to make her dreams come true. Charlotte chooses while still young to become "Charley," realizing that the obstacles she faces will be more easily overcome if she appears to be a boy. Charlotte's special gift for working with horses will be sure to appeal to many a horse-crazy young listener. D.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169833560
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	12/01/2011
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Videos