Scan barcode
vtsarahd's review
5.0
Beautifully written historical fiction. Charlotte is a girl who is orphaned early in her life and then sent to a boy's orphanage. She is able to run away and becomes a stagecoach driver. Pam Munoz Ryan does a great job of capturing the harsh realities of life at the time of the mid-1800s when Charlotte was around. Charlotte overcomes great adversity multiple times throughout the text, serving as a wonderful discussion starter for young readers. The character of Charlotte is partly based on an actual person, as Pam Munoz Ryan explains in her Author's Note. This is a great example of a strong female character for young girls.
rschroeder88's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tmika's review
4.0
I remember reading this as a class in 3rd grade, which is absolutely fitting for the style of writing. Great story with some California history, would recommend!
jmitchson's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
carolineinthelibrary's review
5.0
This is one of the best children's books I've read in a long time! Charlotte, a young orphan, dreams of her freedom from the terrible orphanage she has lived in since she was a baby. When she finally runs away, disguised as a boy, she discovers just how much freedom she has. I thought this had a powerful message embedded in a very sweet story.
jaojins's review
5.0
I loved this book as a kid. It tells an interesting story of a little known person in history who did an incredible thing.
christineo2263's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0