Everyone has heard of Paul Revere's ride, made famous in Longfellow's poem. But how many have heard of Sybil Ludington, a brave young girl who rode longer and farther? In this true story of bravery and determination, Sybil risks darkness and danger to help the Revolutionary War effort. The British are invading, and it is up to her to muster the troops for defense. Karen B. Winnick skillfully captures the hazards of wartime, Sybil's courage, and her spirited colt with a suspenseful account and rich illustrations.

On a dark, cold, and rainy night in April 1777, Sybil Ludington sets out on a journey to warn American soldiers that danger is headed their way. The British are coming! They have already attacked a nearby town, and it is up to sixteen-year-old Sybil to make sure that she reaches the American soldiers before the British do. With only a large stick to defend herself, and her horse, Star, for company, Sybil rides off into the perilous night and changes the course of the American Revolution. The true story of Sybil's bravery and perseverance are faithfully related by Marsha Amstel's appealing text and Ellen Beier's finely crafted illustrations.

Everyone has heard of Paul Revere's ride, made famous in Longfellow's poem. But how many have heard of Sybil Ludington, a brave young girl who rode longer and farther? In this true story of bravery and determination, Sybil risks darkness and danger to help the Revolutionary War effort. The British are invading, and it is up to her to muster the troops for defense. Karen B. Winnick skillfully captures the hazards of wartime, Sybil's courage, and her spirited colt with a suspenseful account and rich illustrations.

What would you do if your country was counting on you to deliver a message? That's sixteen-year-old Sybil Ludington’s urgent mission. In 1777, Sybil and her family believe the American colonies should be free from British control. Sybil’s father leads a regiment of New York militiamen, and everyone in the family is dedicated to the Patriot cause. Using spy tactics and codes, the Ludingtons gather intelligence, hoping to stay one step ahead of their enemies. When British troops raid nearby Danbury, Connecticut, Sybil gallops through the night to call out her father's men. But the journey is dangerous for a girl who’s all alone. With obstacles at every turn, will she make it in time to stop the British? Based on a True Story books are exciting historical fiction about real children who lived through extraordinary times in American History. This title has Common Core connections.

"Originally published as Sybil Ludington: the call to arms, Purple Mountain Press, 2000" -- Title page verso.

One brave girl, one strong pony, one desperate ride to deliver a crucial message that would change the course of American history. Betsy is the girl power answer to Paul Revere. Repeated for over two hundred years as an oral tradition, the legend of Betsy Dowdy is a classic American tale of a girl who simply believed she could be free. Inspired by the danger and daring of this ordinary North Carolinian girl, THE RIDE is a story about stepping up to help the cause you believe in, doing even what little you can, and building the United States of America.