The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America

Annie believed that Americans would show her hospitality and kindness during her travels. Using textual evidence, examine how her experience reinforced this belief, and which gestures were the most meaningful to her.

The book claims that TV and news media publicized crime more widely, making Americans more wary and suspicious of each other. Do you agree or disagree with this assessment? Explain in detail.

How does the text characterize Annie’s strengths and weaknesses? Consider her appearance, beliefs, habits, and goals, using textual evidence to develop a short essay.

The book argues that Americans reacted positively to Annie’s journey because it evoked nostalgia for American pioneer days. What parallels, if any, did Annie’s journey west have with settlers who traveled a similar route?

Choose an interesting or impactful event from the book. Using textual evidence, explain why the event was significant in the story and what it reveals about human nature.

Annie journeyed across the US during a time of social change. How does the text show that the country was in flux, and why is this social context significant to the story? Use textual evidence in exploring this topic.

Using textual evidence, examine how the text makes Tarzan, Rex, and Depeche Toi characters in the story.

Research a landscape or landmark in the book and describe how different people, including Annie herself, have perceived and interacted with it. Consider the ancient past, Indigenous cultures, and historical events in your description.