A reissue of Pam Munoz Ryan's bestselling backlist with a distinctive new author treatment.In this fast-paced, courageous, and inspiring story, rea...
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Jun 07, 2008
Sylvia
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This historical fiction book is based on Parkhurst's life and experiences. Although this book has a slow (and tragic) beginning, it picks up speed as it moves along. Charlotte was raised as an orphan with all boys. She eventually ran away and spent her life disguised as a man. Because she was disguised as a man, she was the first woman ever to vote (even though no one realized she was a woman until her death).
As a woman living in the 1800's, Charlotte had to maintain her disguise in More...
As a woman living in the 1800's, Charlotte had to maintain her disguise in More...
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Feb 11, 2009
Sherri
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Oct 11, 2011
Afton
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Aug 27, 2011
Librarianforhim
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Plot: Charlotte Parkhust lived in a boys orphanage after the death of her parents. She left the orphanage after her best friend was adopted. After that she disguised herself as a boy and learned to drive a stagecoach. She made her way in the world at a time when most doors were closed to women.
Why I picked it up - This is another book a committee I'm on is considering for our annual one book, one county reading event.
Why I kept reading - Charlotte was such a strong, inspirin More...
Why I picked it up - This is another book a committee I'm on is considering for our annual one book, one county reading event.
Why I kept reading - Charlotte was such a strong, inspirin More...
Dec 08, 2011
Nicole
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Aw, I really liked this book. Firstly, I like to see when authors really do their research, and Ryan did hers before creating this book! This true story is very inspiring in that it tells the story of a girl, Charlotte Parkhurst, living in a sexist society where women haven't a voice nor could they choose what they longed to do. In order to chase her dreams of riding horses and owning her own ranch, she disguises herself as a man. I think that, for students, a story like this provides glimpses o
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Jan 21, 2011
Daisy
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I selected this book named Riding freedom because when i first looked it feels in me that have to read it. Then i was rigth when i first read the three page it motive me so fast.This book makes you think alot of things you maight know. Makes you motive an express your self. i see this book intersting aint iwas right.Also my teacher ms. Nelso tell me that is a good book to read.
I think that i maight dont like it but its a great book. when you started to read it seen to you More...
I think that i maight dont like it but its a great book. when you started to read it seen to you More...
Aug 31, 2011
Nobies57
rated it: 
Charlotte Parkhurst
1860's
Charlotte is orphaned at the age of 2 when the wagon her family is riding goes off the road. She lives in an orphanage until the age of 12. Her time in the orphanage is rough. She is forced to work in the kitchen with Mrs. Boyle, who has prevented her from being adopted due the fact that she needs her as a kitchen hand. When the director of the orphanage orders her to stop working in the stables and spend all her time in the kitchen Charlotte decides More...
1860's
Charlotte is orphaned at the age of 2 when the wagon her family is riding goes off the road. She lives in an orphanage until the age of 12. Her time in the orphanage is rough. She is forced to work in the kitchen with Mrs. Boyle, who has prevented her from being adopted due the fact that she needs her as a kitchen hand. When the director of the orphanage orders her to stop working in the stables and spend all her time in the kitchen Charlotte decides More...
Aug 05, 2011
H
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A well-researched book based on the real life "Charley Parkhurst" - a stage driver and respected community member in the Santa Cruz, CA area who after "he" died was found to be a woman who had lived her life as a man. Parkhurst had succeeded in a man's world at a man's job, and even voted in presidential elections. Munoz Ryan does a good job fictionalizing the story, and walking the reader through a life in a slim book and a very fast read. Would be a good read-aloud (fast
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Sep 06, 2009
Jackie
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Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan is based on the true story of Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst, a strong, independent young woman who made her way in a world of men in the mid-1800s. She lost her parents when she was just a toddler and lived her early life in an orphanage filled with boys. She quickly became adept at taking care of, riding, and training horses. Charley had what it took to be a first-rate carriage driver...and that she did. She ran away from the orphanage since she knew her gender wou
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Dec 28, 2011
Christy
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By the age of 12, Charlotte Parkhurst knows the world of the 1860s holds more opportunities for boys than girls. So she cuts off her hair, dons boy's clothing and begins a new life that gives her many privileges, including the right to vote. Finalist for the 1999-2000 California Young Reader Medal. "A skillful execution of a fascinating historical tale, " says "...moreBy the age of 12, Charlotte Parkhurst knows the world of the 1860s holds more opportunities for boys than girls. S
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May 17, 2011
Bdalton
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This is a fictional account of Charlotte Parkhurst (Charley or One-Eye Charley), a woman who drove coaches both on the East and West Coasts. Charley becomes an orphan at a young age and is placed at an orphanage for boys. Because she is the only girl, she becomes the kitchen maid of the place and the mean cook steps in the way to prevent her from being adopted - the cook is more concerned about losing her help. Charley loves to work with the horses and has one true friend Hayward. When she l
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Sep 05, 2011
Ellen
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I thought this book might appeal to some of my younger readers who like horse stories. Maybe, but there's much more history than horses in this story. It really is the true story of Charlotte Parkhurst, a girl orphaned in every sense of the word who lives as a boy on her own in the 1860s. I know the story is supposed to be about her pioneering spirit, and that WAS in there, but I couldn't help but feel sad for a young girl who was unloved by those who should have cared for her at the orphanag
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Sep 07, 2010
Kim
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There are definite similarities to "The Dreamer" in this book, and while I found that to be the better book that should not be held against it. I can't believe I've never heard of Charlotte Parkhurst before this book. Her story is extremely fascinating and the stuff great movies and tall tales are made of. That bodes well for this book, which mixes fact and fiction together into a delicious, reader-friendly concoction. Ryan's writing isn't as gorgeous as it was in "The Dreamer,"
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Nov 24, 2011
Biblibio
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When I was a kid and I got Riding Freedom for my birthday, I was worried it would be another boring girl-and-her-horse story. Instead, I got a bad-[...] adventure story about a girl dressing up as a boy and doing what she loves. Riding Freedom remains one of the best girl-passing-off-as-guy stories I've ever read, well-written and populated by a clever and interesting character. This is the kind of book that gets kids thinking. It certainly did for me.
Highly recommended for kids aged More...
Highly recommended for kids aged More...
Nov 07, 2010
Makayla
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In the beginning of this book is, when Charlotte is in the scene of her parents in a storm, in a Stage Coach (a carriage). Then, she gets sent to the Orphanage by her neighbors, who took her to the Doctor, to make sure she was not hurt.
In the middle of this book is, when the horse she rides in races with, Freedom, dies. Then her friend, at the Orphanage, Hayward, gets adopted. Then she runs away. Then she dresses as a boy.
In the -early end-, she finds Ebeneezer. When she start More...
In the middle of this book is, when the horse she rides in races with, Freedom, dies. Then her friend, at the Orphanage, Hayward, gets adopted. Then she runs away. Then she dresses as a boy.
In the -early end-, she finds Ebeneezer. When she start More...
Nov 21, 2011
Bobby
rated it:
An excellent book based on a true story of a woman who lived as a man in the 1800's to escape the rampant sexism of her time, as well to pursue her dreams of riding horses and having her own ranch. Along the way she became the first woman to vote in California (disguised as a man), well before women had the right to vote. Brian Selznick's illustrations are excellent (as always! Wish there were more though) and Pam Ryan's does a stupendous job of telling the story in a way that it should keep the
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Sep 14, 2011
Ingrid
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I thought this was a stupendous story for young readers. The protagonist is a strong, intelligent young woman who took a stand during a time where women were undervalued in society, and made something of herself by picking herself up by her boot straps. It was encouraging to read a heroine so courageous and full of spunk who was more concerned with women's rights than falling for a boy. Even better, it was based on a real person so it makes the reader want to research Charlotte Parkhurst. Overal
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Jan 10, 2009
Anna
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3.5 stars. I enjoyed reading this story, which is based on the true story of Charlotte Parkhurst, a female who pretended to be male in order to be able to do what she wanted in the early 1800s. It's a cute story that girls should be able to relate to quite easily and anyone who is into horses will also probably love this. The writing is simple so it's probably written on a fourth or fifth grade level but the ideas will get kids talking and the pictures are also really cool (Brian Selznick is t
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Jun 01, 2008
Parkyr
rated it:
I loved the book kind of reminded me the movie She's the Man.
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Oct 31, 2009
Mary
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Charlotte's parents both die when lightning startles the horses that are pulling their carriage. Since she has no other relatives, Charlotte is sent to an orphanage for boys - the only one around. As a young girl, she loves working in the stables and racing the horses until a jealous boy from town says it isn't proper for a girl, and she is forced to stop and given more household chores for the orphanage. But Charlotte has dreams of owning her own ranch and training horses and she won't let the
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Feb 02, 2009
David
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I liked reading this book because i liked the storyline of this book. This book is about a girl named Charlotte who was an orphan. She was in a orphanage that was for boys and she didn't mind that. She did everything the boys did including riding horses. She rode on a horse named Freedom which died one morning and she was not allowed to ride horses anymore. She was force to work in the kitchen and she didn't want to work there. Se was determined to run away from the orphanage. In the 1800's girl
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Jan 15, 2011
Jonathan
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This chapter book is based on the true story of an orphan girl, Charlotte, who pretends she is a boy so that she can become a stage coach driver in 19th Century America. The story moves fast because it chronicles important events in her life and glosses over the rest. She remains incognito throughout and even secretly votes in a Presidential Election. The book offers many opportunities to discuss rights, responsibilities and rules with children. We had some fun discussing when it is okay to brea
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Mar 31, 2010
J-Lynn
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This short book packs in a lot of story following the life of Charlotte Parkhurst from a young orphan girl who loved horses to when she died dressed as a man and known as Charlie to everyone. Charlotte was a real person in the 1800's who originally dressed as a boy so she could run away from the orphanage and work with horses. As Charlie, she became the most respected stage coach driver on the East Coast and eventually moved out to the rough new state of California. Even after an accident tha
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Aug 20, 2011
Liz
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Mia has been reading books over the summer for her school's battle of the books and so I decided to read them all too to help her be able to discuss them with her group.
This one is about the first woman who voted. Most of the book is fictionalized to keep kids interested but she is given credit for being the first woman to vote. From a young age she pretended to be a boy/man and so she lived her life and voted as a man and was only discovered to be a woman when she died. Good book.
This one is about the first woman who voted. Most of the book is fictionalized to keep kids interested but she is given credit for being the first woman to vote. From a young age she pretended to be a boy/man and so she lived her life and voted as a man and was only discovered to be a woman when she died. Good book.
Jun 27, 2010
Cathy
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A 12 year old orphan girl escapes her past by masquerading as a boy, working in a stable, and becoming a masterful stage driver. She works hard to achieve her dreams of owning her own ranch and business - all things that were out of reach for women in that time period. She lives out her life as a man and became the first women to vote (as a man) in California, long before women had the right. This is an empowering story for young girls to follow their heart's dream and work to achieve their go
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Aug 01, 2011
Joy
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I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK!! I have seriously read it over and over. Charlotte is a brave and wonderful character who loves horses and disguises herself as a boy to escape her horrible orphanage. To get what she wants, Charlotte defies all the restrictions girls and women had to face in the 1800s. She works and lives like a man to follow her dream of owning her own ranch with her friend, Hayward. To do what she loves, Charlotte does whatever it takes and goes beyond all expectations.
Apr 30, 2011
Lisbeth
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The cover is so cute (maybe too cute--are there blue-eyed horses?), but the inside disappointed me: too much time covered in too short a book diminished what could have been a much more powerful story. There were tragic losses and moving partings that the author did not mine.
Question: when I, as an adult, reread Charlotte's web and "weep like a child" at the end, is it indicative of the power of the story and writing, or is it just the power of memory taking me back "d More...
Question: when I, as an adult, reread Charlotte's web and "weep like a child" at the end, is it indicative of the power of the story and writing, or is it just the power of memory taking me back "d More...
Nov 09, 2010
I love this book. It is about this girl who lives in a foster home. She secretly has a horse that she found in the woods named Freedom. Back then girls weren't allowed to have horses and be outside where she lives. So she runs away from her foster home and cuts off all her hair and acts like a boy. SHe pulls it off. Her and Freedom sneak away and go to a barn full of boys. In the end her foster parents look for her and everything. The old man (her grandpa) dies.
Mar 26, 2011
EmmaLou
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Wonderful historical fiction based on true story of Charley Darkey Parkhurst (1812-1879) whose grave monument reads, "Noted Whip of the Gold Rush Days. Drove Stage Over Mt. Madonna in Early Days of Valley. Last Run, San Juan to Santa Cruz. Death in Cabin near the 7-Mile House Revealed "One-eyed Charlies," a Woman, the First to Vote in the U.S. Nov. 3, 1868."
California Young Reader Medal winner
Read with 4th-grade Lit Circle
California Young Reader Medal winner
Read with 4th-grade Lit Circle
May 20, 2011
Katie
rated it:
I read this for the Mother-Daughter bookclub. It is about a girl who runs away from an orphanage and pretends to be a boy in order to drive stage-coaches. What I didn't realize until the end was that it was based on the real life of an individual whose true gender was not discovered until death. It made the story more interesting and I think there will be a lot for the girls to discuss. Tessa liked the book.
