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The Ride

The Legend of Betsy Dowdy
by Kitty Griffin
40p. 978-1-41692-816-4.
COPY ISBN
Gr 1—4—"She couldn't stop King George. She couldn't fight as a soldier. But she could ride." That refrain echoes throughout this gripping tale of a girl's courageous effort to alert Colonial troops to an impending attack on the barrier island of Currituck, NC. Although there is no proof that Betsy Dowdy really existed, her story is part of a long oral tradition, and whether truth or legend, it is inspirational. Upon hearing that Lord Dunmore's Redcoats are on their way, most likely to commandeer their supplies and the ponies her father keeps, Betsy determines to get word to General Skinner 50 miles away. Dressed in breeches, she mounts her beloved pony, Bess, and undertakes the long and hazardous journey to Skinner's camp, braving freezing water, packs of dogs, and the possibility of highwaymen along the way. Griffin's writing is nicely paced, galloping along much as Bess does. Priceman's signature swirling backgrounds and slightly off-kilter perspectives also help maintain the dramatic tension. This riveting read-aloud captures the spirit and determination of that journey to liberty fought so long ago.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Griffin describes how in 1775 a sixteen-year-old North Carolina horsewoman took the ride of her life to warn of the Redcoats' approach. Priceman's expressively angular, bold-hued gouache and ink paintings accentuate the urgency of Betsy's mission. An author's note tells more about the folkloric figure: "It cannot be proved that Betsy Dowdy really existed, but her legend lives on."
Kitty Griffin brings the legend of Betsy Dowdy’s ride, part of the oral storytelling tradition in the South, to a wider audience. Her lively story captures the risks and excitement of Betsy’s fifty-mile overnight journey. Marjorie Priceman’s atmospheric, folk-art-style illustrations evoke the sandy, swampy, coastal North Carolina. Both text and artwork include details that are specific to the time and place, such as Mr. Lamb poling his flat-bottomed boat across the Pasquotank River. When Mr. Lamb says, “You’re a pepper pot, Betsy Dowdy,” it is as much in response to the breeches she’s wearing as it is to her courageous journey. A map on the endpapers depicts the length and scope of Betsy and Bess’s travels.

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