Riding Freedom
Illustrator
Brian Selznick
Publisher
Scholastic Press
Publication Year
1998
ISBN
9780590957663
Pages
138 pages
Genre
historical
Format
chapter book
Item Type
Fiction
Annotation
A fictionalized account of Charley (Charlotte) Parkhurst who ran away from an orphanage, posed as a boy, moved to California, and fooled everyone by her appearance.
Grade Level
3-5
Diversity Topics
Family Relationships; LGBTQ (Gender and Sexuality); Family member death; Gender nonconformity; death of a mother; death of a father; death of parents; gender expression; gender roles; girls who dress as boys
Main Character
girl
Race/Ethnicities
White
Family Formation
no family
Awards
Arizona Young Readers' Award, 2000, Winner, Intermediate
California Young Reader Medal, 2000, Winner, Intermediate
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award, 2000, Honor
Children's Literature Council of Southern California Award, 1999, Winner, Recognition of Merit for a First Novel
Grand Canyon Reader Award, 2000, Winner, Intermediate Book
Keywords
Charley Parkhurst; mistaken identity; California; east coast; orphanage; stage coach driving; horses
Diversity Impact
direct
STARS Citation
Ryan, Pam Muñoz, "Riding Freedom" (1998). Diverse Families. 1206.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/diversefamilies/1206