Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan

Riding Freedom by Pam Munoz Ryan-Author Study
This book was based on the true story of Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst, became known as a top-notch horse rider, a preferred stagecoach driver, and the first woman to vote in the state of California and possibly the United States. This fictional novel spans some of the highlights of Charlotte, "Charley,"(and Ryan includes some of her own imaginative ideas in the story) and her love and passion for riding horses, and her unending determination she has inside her. Charlotte was given to an orphanage when her parents died in a horse accident and she was the only one to survive out of it. Her only interest in the orphanage became the horses and she soon beat all the boys in the orphanage in the horse races. She felt so stifled at the orphanage, she decided to run away. She did not exactly have a plan; but she knew she needed out of there. Charlotte covered her tracks well for the most part and when she reached her first destination, she knew she was chasing freedom! She dressed like a man for most of her life because no passengers would want or trust a woman driving their stagecoach to their destinations. The ending of the story (whether it is a true event or part of what Ryan added) is heartwarming and includes the visit to her ranch in California by her only orphanage friend Charlotte had. I really enjoyed this book because it really held my interest in the events of what was happening. It even touches upon politics because of her being a woman disguised as a man, who also votes (who they later find out she's a woman). I loved the fierce determination Charlotte possessed to change her world and fight for what she believed. I would have liked to have more substance to the ending. I would have liked to hear more what her life was like; but I know the author tried to keep the book to an appropriate length for the intended age of her readers. Overall a great read and I would love to have it in my classroom!