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cahistorygeek's review
3.0
An interesting kids read that alters reality a bit in the name of the story. The audio book kept me entertained for a few hours. While I question a lot of the history I appreciated the storytelling. A good read for kids interested in history and horses.
intovertedbooknerd's review
5.0
Read this with my 5th grader. It’s a very good, short, easy read for young readers. A very touching piece of historical fiction.
bookladykd's review
4.0
This was a reread of a 21-year-old title. I think now we would likely describe Charley as a trans man, but without knowing Charley's full motivation for gender switching it's hard to know for sure. Read for our 4th/5th grade book club.
gallagirlreads's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
gabs_cald's review
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
molly_benevides's review
4.0
I never read "horse" books, you know what I mean, but this one was illustrated by Brian Selznick so I gave it a chance, also, I wanted to see if it really was "historical fiction."
I liked it! It's short, so it'll appeal to reluctant readers. It has a pretty strong historical base, so it should do for school reports, and it has a great story!
I liked it! It's short, so it'll appeal to reluctant readers. It has a pretty strong historical base, so it should do for school reports, and it has a great story!
jackjackson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Lindo
the_weirdling's review
4.0
An enjoyable book about an orphan who runs away from an abusive situation to make her own way in the world. It’s a very powerful story, following the life of a young girl who hides by pretending to be a boy. As she ages, she never gives up the disguise. She continues to live as a male, finding freedom and accomplishment that would have been denied to her as a woman. It’s a powerful meditation on history, gender, and power. But it’s also just a nice story about a girl finding her own very unique path through life.
emilyusuallyreading's review
2.0
I read this book for my Children's Literature class and was a little disappointed. I never experienced much of an attachment for the characters after the first few chapters. Charlotte in the orphanage was spunky and full of personality, but Charley the stagecoach driver seemed a stiff and purely biographical telling of a person who lived a long time ago. I felt only confusion about the relationship between Charlotte and her friend Hayward. I did enjoy the adventures Charley faced in her life, but I never felt like I got to know her. Obviously, there is only so much liberty one could take in a biographical novel, but Charley never seemed like anything other than a character strained to be a child's hero, and not as an American woman with a relatable life.