Riding Freedom

An interesting story well enough told, but very much written to offend the fewest possible number of parents of young children. That the story is based upon a real person is the most important part, because as a fable its been done so often.

When Charlotte and her parents are riding inside a carriage that tumbles down an embankment, killing her parents, Charlotte is alone and placed in a children's home.

Charlotte escapes by pretending to be a boy. All her attire from the rest of her life is that of a boy, then a man. Taking the name of Charlie Parkhurst, Charlotte is blinding in one eye by a kick from a horse. She always loved horses and has a way of working with them to calm them. The accident made her become more brave and taught her to continue to overcome adversity.

Charlotte finds her friends from the home, and together they take passengers through the western areas of the United States. In her portrayal of a man, she gains confidence and those around her are safe in show more her care.

Years later, she saves enough money to buy property. The most amazing thing is dressed as a man, she votes. And, thus became the first woman who ever voted.

This book is based on the true-life story of the actual person who called herself Charlie. Once again, this is another young adult book that teaches history in a succinct, interesting manner.

Recommended. show less

I recently read The Whip by Karen Kondazian and found the character of Charley Parkhurst so interesting I immediately sought out this children's version just to get another quick take on the story. To keep the interest of kids, the character's birthdate has been moved a few decades so Parkhurst can be a child and young adult for most of the book. Pretty standard children's fare with a plucky and determined protagonist facing some difficult circumstances and choices.

Neither book seems to do justice to the character, but with so little known about this actual historical figure I guess it is pretty easy for everyone to project their own beliefs, agendas, or end goals onto the tale.

This is a charming middle-grade novel based on the true story of a young woman who found freedom in the 19th century by living as a man. It was a very quick audiobook accompaniment to cleaning hummingbird feeders this morning. My 11-year-old son and I both enjoyed it quite a bit.

The theme of this book is fighting for one's goals and staying strong despite persecution or pitfalls in life. I like this book for two reasons. First, it is based on a true story of a woman in the 1800s who disguised herself as a man for all of her adult life. In doing so, she was able to achieve goals for herself that she wouldn't have been able to do if she were identified as a woman. Although this is a fictional account of her life, the fact that it is based on a true story makes it more exciting to the reader and allows the reader to connect to the real world. Secondly, the book pushes readers to think about controversial issues such as gender and women's rights. Issues with women's rights still go on today, but to read about the show more prejudice against women during this time period allows readers to think about why those things happened and how much courage it took Charlotte to live her life the way she did. show less

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, inspiring character. The author brought her to life through a fast moving, engaging plot, and through dialogue driven scenes that revealed details of the real-life Charley Parker's life. I was delighted to discover this book was based on true events.

After finishing the book show more I was inspired to learn more about the life of Charley Parkhurst. I recommend this to those looking for a book with a strong female character. Also, to those who enjoy fictionalized accounts of real-life figures. This book would also be great for a children's book club since there are many discussion topics that emerge from the story. show less

Riding Freedom accurately represents many of the struggles faced by women in history. They couldn't do everything that men could do, including getting certain jobs or vote in the elections. Charlotte, fearless orphan-in-disguise, overcomes the challenges thrown at her and outperforms most of her co-workers and competitors when it comes to driving a stagecoach. Her fearlessness allows us to be exposed head-on to the prejudice of the society that she lives in.