Sarah’s Comments (group member since Jan 10, 2018)

Sarah’s comments from the Munoz Ryan author study group.

Ideas to use with “Riding Freedom”:

Background knowledge as to what is an orphanage is may be important to some students. This could lead to a discussion about orphans in North Dakota (local history), orphan trains, and reasons that orphans could have come West to places like North Dakota. This topic brought to mind another book I read, Jake’s Orphan by Peggy Brooke, that is about an orphan who is brought to North Dakota to work on the farm.

In social studies this year my class has been learning about many events that Charlotte experiences in this book. Further discussion and activities could take place regarding slaves, slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad, the gold rush, Women’s Rights and voting, the pony express, the transcontinental telegraph and railroad, wagon trains, the roles of women and stereotypes during this time period.

Munoz Ryan uses many similes in her writing. Some included in “Riding Freedom”: “you look nervous as a cat” “(ribbons) like silky snakes” “heart was pounding as loud as a drum beating” ”lazy as pigs” “looked pale as milk” “flew across like scared jackrabbits” “news of how the one-eyed stage driver saved the lives of those people spread like warm honey”. An extended lesson could be about figurative language.

Bullying could be addressed when we see how William treats Hayward. There could also be a discussion about the many positive character traits of Charlotte.

Of course, I loved the Author’s note at the end of the book that reveals some of the fact behind the fiction in the book. I had to go online to find some more information on our main character. It would be interesting for students to do some research on the facts behind Charlotte/Charley Parkhurst and compare/contrast to the events in “Riding Freedom”.

Vocab and questions I wrote down while reading:

Chapter One:
Vocab: Ruffian, petticoat, adopted

What’s in a name and how is this important? When the children hear the bell ring, how might they feel? Are they excited, anxious, scared? Will it be Hayward or Charlotte that the couple wants a second look at? What will happen with Freedom?

Chapter Two:
Vocab: prospective, reputation, mollycoddles, chaperon, tendril

How do you think that Charlotte felt when the woman was interested in her, but Mr. Millshark claimed she was just her niece helping out and wasn’t up for adoption? What plan do you think that Charlotte has devised? How will Hayward be able to help her before he leaves?

So many blows to Charlotte in this chapter—loosing Freedom, not being allowed to work in the stables, her best friend, Hayward, being adopted (even though she is truly happy for him)—How much more can she handle?

Chapter Three:
Vocab: hank, brambles,

Why do you think that Vern is going to name the next foal “Charlotte’s Pride”? Do you think that Charlotte will be able to carry out her plan and get on the stagecoach undetected?

Chapter Four:
Vocab: livery, droning, satchel, kerchief,

What do you think will happen to Charlotte now that she has been found in the loft?

Chapter Five:
Vocab: scrawny, coax,

What do you think would happen to Ebeneezer if Mr. Millshark finds out that he knows about Charlotte? Why do you think that Ebeneezer gives Charlotte a chance at driving six-in-the-hand and thus a chance to go to Rhode Island?

In the Middle & Chapter Six:
Vocab: considerate, masquerade, parcels, strongboxes, manifest, reputable

What could happen to Charlotte if she was found doing a “man’s job”? Were you surprised that Ebeneezer still has Charlotte drive the stagecoach with Mr. Millshark on it? What did you think when Charlotte took off her kerchief? Did you think she got to confident or just forgot to be cautious? Do you think that Mr. Millshark will put the familiar face to a name?

Chapter Seven:
Vocab: Argonauts, prospectors, marshal, porter, handbill, converted, ramshackle

How do you think that Charlotte feels knowing the reasons behind Ebeneezer’s kindness? Do you think she needed his blessing? Do you still think about her promise to Hayward about bringing him to her ranch? Why do you suppose Charlotte was willing to approach and talk to the women in front of the saloon who wanted women to be able to vote? Why does Charlotte tell the woman she is brave?

Chapter Eight:
Vocab: feral, shod

When Charlotte gets kicked and ends up in the doctor’s office, what do you think scares her more, the thought of losing the vision in her left eye, or being found out that she is a girl? What could this do to her dreams in California? What did you think about the other stories the doctor told her about women who had pretended to be men? What words can be used to describe Charlotte getting back on the stagecoach? Do you think that Charlotte proved herself when she got everyone safely across the bridge in the storm?

Chapter Nine:
Vocab: foreclose, hillock,

Were you surprised that Charlotte bought the land and allowed Margaret to stay? Were you surprised to see Hayward? Do you think Ebeneezer will join Charlotte on the land she just purchased? Do you think Hayward will stay?

Chapter Ten & The End:
Vocab: Breach

What do you think about Charlotte registering to vote? Do you think that Charlotte sees herself in Sarah? What do you think the answers are to Charlotte’s questions: “Would her one vote make a difference?” Do you agree with her reasons for voting? Were you surprised that Ebeneezer wanted to stay? What did you think about the names for the colt and filly?

My heart sank when she went to get the money orders and found that they were missing. She had truly learned what hard work really was and that money meant the world to her. Her only goals for working hard and earning money was to pay for Mama’s medical care and to bring Abuelita to them in California. To discover it was missing was such a blow so quickly after the elation she was feeling now that Mama had returned home. At first, I did not think that Miguel was the one that took the money orders—just that they had simply been stolen. Mama handled it with grace when she said that he must have really needed them. Miguel and his family had always seemed to hold such a fondness for Esperanza and her family that it just didn’t seem in his character. Of course, knowing that he took it so that he could bring Abuelita to California was the perfect ending and spoke leaps and bounds about him as a person and his affection toward Esperanza. I would have stood in disbelief as Abuelita stepped off of the bus and then been overcome with joy! So many things that Miguel did made him such a loveable character in this book, but bringing Abuelita to California without anyone’s knowledge took the cake! I think that life is coming together for Esperanza she is finding her new “normal”. She has really grown up, now feels the heartbeat of the Earth, and has her family back together.

I loved reading the author’s note at the end of the book. Munoz Ryan shares some of the “real life” story behind “Esperanza Rising”. To know that the basis of the story came from that of her great-grandparents Sixto Ortega and Ramona who had a ranch in Aguascalientes, Mexico and were forced to immigrate to California made the story even better for me. I loved that Munoz Ryan included that “esperanza” means “hope”. What a fitting title for this story!

The part in this section where Mama and Esperanza are surprised by Alfonso and Miguel planting her father’s roses warmed my heart. What a special pair of men that would think so highly of these women that they would work so hard to bring along the roses, make sure they received water along the journey, and lovingly plant them in America. This action gives me hope that Esperanza will feel the heartbeat of the land again. Part of her father has made this journey with her and is now planted in this new land. Hopefully, the roses and Esperanza will grow in this new land together.

I cannot begin to imagine how difficult this journey is for Esperanza is right now. She continues to be dealt blow after blow. Everything is new for her and on top of it, she has to learn and be strong without the guidance of her mother after she becomes ill and goes into the hospital. Esperanza has shown maturity when trying to keep things together for her family, working to generate income, and visiting the hospital.

I like happy endings, so I hope with all hope that her Mama will get better and return to Esperanza. There just has to be a way that she will be able to get Abuelita to California—I am just not sure how she will make that happen. I am also wondering where the relationship with Miguel will go—now that they are no longer in Mexico and not the ranch owner's daughter and the housekeeper's son.

My heart really went out to Esperanza while reading this first section. She went from being the daughter of a land owner in Mexico with a stable, loving family to tragedy in short order. She suddenly faces the loss of her father, becomes homeless, experiences the viciousness of her uncles, the threat of being sent off to boarding school, and having to leave the only home she has ever known in such a quick amount of time she can hardly process all that has happened to her. She still views herself as she always has and hasn’t come to terms with how all of these setbacks have impacted how others now view her. I think that interactions such as the girl and the doll, the woman and her chickens, and words shared with Isabel and Marta are almost like slaps in the face. They are important in Esperanza coming to terms with what has happened to her and where life is leading her. So far, Mama is desperately trying to make the best out of a bad situation. She is trying to lead by example and teach compassion in a difficult time. She shows Esperanza that being kind and generous can happen even in the worst of situations (making the yarn doll, sharing doilies/chickens with the woman on the train). I think (and hope) that these lessons from Mama will allow Esperanza to adjust to her new reality and find her place in this new world that she has entered.

As everyone has said, I absolutely loved the ending of this book!! After each part of this book we were left hanging, and it all made sense while reading this section. Munoz Ryan was able to orchestrate the perfect ending and bring the main characters together in a way that I was not expecting! The harmonica plays such an important part throughout the book--but makes the biggest impression when it protects Kenny from the bullet. I loved how the three young women came to him during his delirium and whispered for him to live. Their voices were otherworldly and gave him the determination he needed. It was what we needed to understand the significance of the fairy tale and the reason that the spell was broken.

I loved that music was significant throughout the stories in the book and it also became a significant part in each of the characters being in Carnegie Hall in New York City. I appreciated how Munoz Ryan wrapped up each of the stories, so that I could be left with a sense of peace about how their lives turned out.

What a great book!!

I too found that it was sad that the Yamamoto’s house was fell victim to graffiti. I was glad that Mr. Lopez found it important to clean up the graffiti—especially before Kenny got home. This young man was off defending his country. His family had already been ripped away by the government out of concern for the country and coming home to find the graffiti on the house would have just been one more slap in the face for Kenny.

I was not expecting that the secret room would hold musical instruments. Of course, given the reoccurring theme of music in this book, it shouldn’t have surprised me. It just goes to show how important music is to the Yamamoto family. I must say that I did expect that there would be family treasures behind the locked door, but I thought that it would have been something like special dishes, dolls, or other mementoes from Japan.

Sadly, I am afraid that the letter that the messenger brings holds bad news about Ivy’s brother. Susan shares that the messenger on the bike is similar to what occurred when her family received the telegram about her brother being killed in action. Maybe Ivy’s brother has been killed—or he could have been injured or taken prisoner.

I am so excited to read this last section of the book! What has happened to Friedrich, his father and uncle? Where do Mike and Frankie end up? What is in that letter and what happens with Fernando? How do these three stories come together? How does the harmonica make its way into each of their hands and how is the harmonica explained? How will this book circle back to the prologue and Otto and the three sisters? So many questions and not much left in Echo!

At first Ivy is quite confused as to why she is not able to get off the bus with Susan. She has simply never had to give a second thought to her background and how that may play a part in how others view her. Her family seems to be open minded and one that includes others, no matter their background. Because of that, Ivy has no reason to believe that others may make snap judgements about her just based on her heritage. When Ivy realizes the reason as to why she goes to Lincoln Annex, it opens up other emotions—embarrassment, anger, frustration, sadness, surprise, shame. I can’t imagine how hard it is for her to easily complete the school work and then just have to sit there or go to be a translator for the 3rd grade classroom rather than to be challenged. If she is able to move up to 6th grade, will she find more of a challenge?

I do not think that anything is hidden in the Yamamato house, nor do I feel that they are spies. I think that it is so sad that an entire group of people (the Japanese) faced such an intense suspicion. A suspicion that led to loosing homes, businesses, personal items and mementos, etc. and being sent to relocation/internment camps. This prejudice was a reaction to hysteria that happened after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Many of the internees were American citizens who, in addition to the loss of material things, were also deprived of their constitutional rights. Did you know that people that had as little as 1/16 Japanese blood were place in relocation/internment camps?

Like many of the responses so far, I wasn’t surprised that the first family didn’t take the boys. They were not looking for a family—mostly they wanted some cheap labor. When they saw the bond between the boys, they knew that separating them and just taking one of the boys would have been more trouble than help.

I think that Mr. Howard was under tremendous pressure to find a child for Mrs. Sturbridge as the deadline was quickly approaching. There were pretty specific wishes for the child. I think that in the end, he felt that being musical trumped the need for a girl. I think that Mr. Howard has an underlying wish, that even though it may be painful for Mrs. Sturbridge to see two boys walk into her home, it may help in learning to love again after the loss of her son. There is also the musical factor that helps to unite the boys and Mrs. Sturbridge.

I was so proud of Mike when he went in to speak to Mrs. Sturbridge. I can’t imagine how hard that was for him and it helps to show how much he loves his brother and wants him to be taken care of. Mike sees it as a solution to keep Frankie out of the state home. He has resigned himself to go back to Bishops if he doesn’t make it into Hoxie’s Harmonica Wizards.

Then when Mike read the note about the adoption appeal being granted, my heart sank. My hope is that this appeal was granted before the bond had been established with Mrs. Sturbridge and was no longer a thought in her mind. However, when Mike sees this he feels like it is time to go, so that he can keep Frankie out of the state home and they can be together.

At the end of this section, we are left hanging again. Does Mike get the wind knocked out of him but then get up and they keep running? Does he get injured and Frankie has to go get help? Will Mike get a letter saying that he made it into Hoxie’s Harmonica Wizards? In the end will Mrs. Sturbridge take the boys as her sons?

The first two parts of this book have so many parallels. Even though the stories take place in different areas of the world there are many similarities—boys facing adversity, leaving in hopes of finding a solution to their problems, music that provides a constant, calming factor in their lives (both with upcoming auditions), deaths of mothers, key people who care about them and do what they can to support them, fear…

Hi everyone! I am a teacher at the Anne Carlsen Center in Jamestown. I teach in a special education classroom with students ages 16 to 21. I have been teaching in this classroom for 16 years.

It was hard to leave the story of Friedrich without knowing what happens to him and his family, but Munoz Ryan immediately had me hooked with the story of Mike and Frankie.

Both of the stories involve young children, both leading difficult lives, who have a deep love for music. They both have suffered loss of family members, but yet still have a deep devotion to the family they have left.

I really think that the harmonica that Mike chooses (or the harmonica that chooses Mike—as Mr. Wilkenson says) is the one that Friedrich packed up to be shipped to America. Not only does it have the “M” on it, but it seems to be magical as well.

I am interested to continue with this part of the story to see when/if Mrs. Sturbridge comes around to the adoption of the boys. What will break the ice between them? What will their relationship be like?

I also agree, I do not think that the connection was made about having the German and Jewish guests occurred to Friedrich’s father. He was quite protective over many aspects of his family and I am surprised that this gathering actually happened. Father was a kindhearted soul and his focus was playing the music he loved while helping Friedrich with his audition for music school. Unfortunately, this focus takes a tragic turn.

I think that Anselm was satisfied with Friedrich agreeing to go the meeting with him. I didn’t get the impression that he felt Friedrich was planning on taking off prior to that meeting taking place. On the train, the first guard told Friedrich that he was cleared, it was only when the second guard said “wait” and pulled back his scarf and hat that he realized the connection he had with Father—a “Jew lover”.

I am not really sure what will happen to Friedrich. I am torn between my want for him to be released, able to find Uncle Gunter, and follow through with the plan and my fear of him being a victim of Hitler and the Nazis.

My biggest questions after this section of reading—Where will the harmonica take us? Where will it end up after Friedrich packs it away to be shipped before he leaves the factory? Whose hands will it fall into?

Given the uncertain state of the time, I feel that Friedrich’s father made the best choice he could have in order to protect his child. Although education continued to be important to him—enough so to line up tutoring at the harmonica factory in the afternoons, learning in a traditional school setting was just not best for Friedrich at the time. There seems to be a “pull” from Friedrich to the harmonica.

I had the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. a few years ago. While it is a shocking, unsettling, and heartbreaking experience, I believe that, even with the sadness and horrors that you see while there, it is an important lesson for all experience. There is a section in the museum that addresses what the Nazi’s did to people with deformities and disabilities. Some things are just never meant to be understood. To say that tears were shed during my time at the museum would be an understatement.

I think that Elisabeth is young and has been easily influenced and brainwashed by the Nazis. She was out on her own for the first time in a larger city. She has found a sense of belonging and security in the activities and beliefs of the League. I wonder how her beliefs will affect her relationship with her father and brother. Will it pull them apart or save them in the end? Will Friedrich’s father announce his allegiance to Hitler to save his family/son? Will Friedrich be forced to go into hiding because of the birthmark on his face or be forced to have the surgery? The harmonica has a significant role in the story thus far, how will the fairytale come into play during the story?

This is the first book by Pam Munoz Ryan that I have read, and I am excited to get going. I must say that when I read Anita's comment, "When I first saw this was starting out as a fantasy book, I thought, "Oh no, this is going to be a long read..." I was glad to see it wasn't fantasy all the way through", I laughed because almost the same thought went through my head. My favorite genre is historical fiction, so I am excited to see where this book leads.

I did like the black pages with white writing--especially in the prologue. It helps to keep the story separate (present vs. fairy tale) when the reader is just beginning the book and getting to know the storyline and characters. I am interested in reading how the story of Otto, the harmonica, the prophecy, and Eins, Zwei, and Drei will play out.