Riding Freedom [Paperback]

Pam Munoz Ryan (Author), Brian Selznick (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999 | Age Range: 8 and up

A reissue of Pam Munoz Ryan's bestselling backlist with a distinctive new author treatment.

In this fast-paced, courageous, and inspiring story, readers adventure with Charlotte Parkhurst as she first finds work as a stable hand, becomes a famous stage-coach driver (performing brave feats and outwitting bandits), finds love as a woman but later resumes her identity as a man after the loss of a baby and the tragic death of her husband, and ultimately settles out west on the farm she'd dreamed of having since childhood. It wasn't until after her death that anyone discovered she was a woman.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

PW's starred review called this fictionalized biography of equestrian Charlotte "Charley" ParkhurstAwho lived her life disguised as a man and was the first woman voter in the U.S.Aan "ebullient and tautly structured novel that moves along at a gallop." Ages 8-12. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6?This 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
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks; Reprint edition (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439087961
• ISBN-13: 978-0439087964
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > United States
  • #9 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Horses
  • #53 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > United States

More About the Author

PAM Muñoz Ryan is the author of more that thirty books for young readers, including four beloved novels, Riding Freedom, Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi León, and Paint the Wind, which collectively have garnered, among countless accolades, the Pura Belpré Medal, the Jane Addams Award, and the Schneider Family Award. She lives in Southern California with her family. You can visit her at www.PamMunozRyan.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars engaging story, even a boy could like, but be prepared! June 19, 2000

By Jane James

Format:Paperback

My 9 year old son read this book, and so I read it, too, so we could discuss it together. It's a very engaging story. My son read it in a day - he couldn't put it down, and I found that I couldn't, either.

There are some very good themes in this book -- the main character is very strong, determined, and survives despite having the odds stacked against her. One thing in particular that I liked is how she doesn't necessarily learn how to do new things with great speed -- but she keeps at it until she has learned a new skill, and is successful at it. I think this is a particularly good thing for children to read about. Not all skills are immediate, and working to achieve proficiency is worthwhile.

Other major themes are the importance of voting, the rights of women, the ability of girls to learn to do jobs formerly considered only fit for boys, facing fears in order to overcome subjugation and make a better life for oneself, and growing up without parents. Slavery is touched on.

This book lends itself to the discussion of any of these topics, and my son and I had some very good talks as a result.

I did feel the story ended a little abruptly. I was completely unprepared for it to be over, I was hoping more would be explained, and I felt dissatisfied after finishing the book.

I must say that I also felt a bit uncomfortable reading about the woman whom the story is actually based on. (She lived her life as a man, and it wasn't discovered until after her death that she was female.) While this book presents topics for children to discuss that are interesting and worthwhile, I don't know that all parents would feel that this book is appropriate for their children to read....

I would suggest that parents read the back of the book first, before handing it to the children to read. Be prepared for some questions! Read more ›

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Megan at Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School January 31, 2002

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

I give this book five stars because I think Riding Freedom is a good book. It was an encouraging book. It is about a girl named Charlotte Parkhurst who loves horses. This book is a historical fiction story; it is a wonderful book. My favorite part was when she saw a pitchfork aiming at her face. I recommend this book. I really enjoyed it. Pam Munoz Ryan and Brian Selslick did a great job.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooray! A real life adventure for girls of all ages. July 18, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

My daughter (age 9) read this to herself one weekend, then she re-read it aloud to me in the car the following week (we have a very long commute to work and school). We both loved this book. As an adventure, it is as good as Tom Sawyer, or Treasure Island, or Kidnapped--and it is a girl's adventure! It is a great book for young girls who are beginning to feel the need for adventure and independence or for girls who love horses.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Riding Freedom June 12, 2001

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

This Historical Fiction book by Pam Munoz Ryan was literally the best book I've ever read. It is a story about a girl who lives in an orphanage. As a 12 year old, she finds no satisfaction in her life at the orphanage in being the cook's helper. Since her parents' death, only one thing matters to her- horses. So she runs away, disguised as a boy, determined to full-fill her dream of owning a ranch and horses. As a boy, she was allowed to vote, becoming the first woman to do so. Kids who read this book will be enchanted by the horses and will relate to Charlotte's determination because Charlotte was a girl about our age. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves horses or just likes a terrific read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Riding Freedom December 13, 2005

A Kid's Review

Format:Hardcover

Riding Freedom

The book Riding Freedom is about an orphan who has run away from an orphanage. She finds a horse driver. The really exciting events in the book were when she escapes, becomes a horse driver, and when she falls in love with one of the horses.

This book would appeal to horse lovers. Annie has a love for Freedom, the horse at the orphanage. She was even cared for by horses when her parents died in an accident. When Annie was a baby, her parents and her went on a horse ride. They went down a hill and they were trying to stop but they couldn't. They crashed in to another horse carriage. Her parents died and she lived.

This book is a page turner. If you like excitement, then you should read this book. This book would also appeal to people who like to read about people in different situations.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Riding Freedom October 13, 2000

By [e-mail]

Format:Paperback

Riding Freedom By: Pam Ryan Riding Freedom is a story about a girl that runs a way from a orphanage. Charlotte starts to work for a carriage comp. but she has to turn in to a boy to keep working there. When the companion moves to rode island she gets hit in the face by a wild mustang. She is brought in to the doctor and the doctor finds out that she is a woman. The doctor says that she will not be able to drive the horses ever again. more than ever she wished she would of stayed back were she was with freedom but then she remembered that freedom had died. When she got back she wanted to ride a horse again she kept trying and trying until she knew everything about the roads. This is a very good book about a girl and horses. I would recommend this book for someone who likes a adventure book about a girl who runs a way from her orphanage. This a really good book to read.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Story of Fascinating Courage April 5, 2001

By Katerina Canyon

Format:Paperback

This is a fictional story based on the life of Charlotte Parkhurst, a stage coach driver who lived during the mid 1800s.

In the story, Charlotte grew up as the only girl in a boy's orphanage where she constantly struggled for freedom and equality. She loved horses and spent every available minute either caring for them or riding them. Because she was a girl, she wasn't held to very high esteem by those around her. The feelings of the boys around her didn't matter as long as she was able to ride horses.

When Charlotte faced the threat of losing the thing she loved most, she had to take action and decided to run away from the orphanage. She disguised herself as a boy in order to hide from the authorities and to obtain work on her own.

Charolotte grew to become a legendary stagecoach driver. She was also the first woman to vote.

My nine-year old daughter loved this book. She was so moved by this story, that she decided to do more research on Charlotte Parkhurst and write a report on her for school.

I was moved by this story as well. It reminded me of how far women have come in the fight for equality.