Riding Freedom (Caballo Llamado Lib Ertad, Un)

Gr 4-6-Based on the true-life experience of Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst, this Spanish translation of Muoz Ryan's popular 1999 title, promises to keep independent readers engaged through to the end. Charlotte finds her niche caring for horses after escaping from an unhappy life in an orphanage. Skilled at driving passenger coaches in New England during the early 1800s, she finds that her biggest challenge is dressing and acting like a man, which she must do to avoid being taken back to the orphanage. Eventually, her journey takes her to California, where she is surrounded with the bustle of the gold rush and becomes the first woman voter in the state. Charlotte, or ""Charley,"" as she is called in the book, demonstrates strength in determination, self-sufficiency, goal setting, and citizenshipmaking an excellent role model. Well-placed b&w sketches are a handsome addi- tion to the text. This is a classic story of overcoming the odds and essential for any collection.Paul M. Kienlen, Alicia R. Chacon International School, El Paso, TX