Charlotte Parkhurst is the first woman known to have voted in the United States. She did so in California on November 3, 1868, 52 years before women's constitutional suffrage was affirmed. And she did so posing as a man. Charlotte's masquerade wasn't just for the purpose of voting, however; it was the way she lived her life. Indeed, it wasn't until after her death in 1879 that "Charley," as she was known, was discovered to be a woman. Pam Muñoz Ryan's fictional story, based loosely on the life of Charlotte Parkhurst, will initially attract many young readers as a story about a girl and horses. As a child, Charlotte worked as a stableboy in the east for several years before moving to California, where she continued to drive stage and work on a ranch--always passing for a boy or young man. But Ryan always keeps Charlotte's female identity at the forefront of her storytelling, and in the context of an appealing adventure she demonstrates female ability and the injustice of laws that prevented women from voting, even slipping in a comment or two from Charlotte about the bravery of women who fought those laws without benefit of masquerade. An author's note at the end of the novel provides a brief summary of the real Charlotte Parkhurst's life. While the note does not provide full enough explanation as to why Ryan chose to set her fictional story in a slightly different time frame than that in which the real Charlotte lived (Charlotte's childhood has been moved from the early to the mid-19th century), it is nonetheless a welcome addition to the text of this engaging story. (Ages 8-11)

Starred Review. Grade 4?6?Equestrian Charlotte "Charley" Parkhurst had the will to overcome challenges and the courage to follow her dreams. In Pam Muñoz Ryan's fictionalized biography (Scholastic, 1998) set in the mid 1800s, Charlotte was raised in an orphanage, loved tending and riding the horses, and yearned for a ranch of her own one day. Banned from the stables, the 12-year-old ran away from the orphanage, disguised herself as a man, became a skilled stagecoach driver, and eventually was the first woman to cast a vote in the California presidential election. Listeners will admire Charley's grit and determination, refusing to give up her dream, even when she was seriously injured and blinded in one eye. Melissa Hughes's narration is superb. She uses her mellifluous voice well, switching easily from raspy Charley to several other male and female characters and employing different regional accents. After the story, Ryan provides additional historical information about Parkhurst's interesting life. Horse aficionados will appreciate the author's attention to detail in recreating the bustling activity of stable and ranch life, while others will enjoy the well-paced adventure and respect Charlotte's determination to meet life head on. A gem.