  | Polo cowboy Author: Neri, Greg | |
| Price: $23.08 | ||
Summary:
When Cole moves in with his dad, Harp, he thinks life will be sweet-just him and his horse, Boo, hanging out with Philadelphia's urban cowboys. But when Harp says he has to get a job, Cole winds up as a stable hand for the polo team at George Washington Military Academy, where the players are rich, white, and stuck-up-all except Ruthie, the team's first and only girl.
| Illustrator: | Watson, Jesse Joshua |
Download a Teacher's Guide| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.10 Points: 7.0 Quiz: 514168 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (09/01/21)
School Library Journal (+) (11/01/21)
Booklist (09/01/21)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 09/01/2021 In this sequel to Ghetto Cowboy (2011), Cole is entering high school and wants to continue living with his dad, who operates a horse rescue operation in Philadelphia. Cole takes a job as groom to the horses at a nearby military academy, where he meets the members of their polo team, including Ruthie, a day student and the only Black team member. Cole learns that there are stark differences between Black urban “cowboys” and white, prep-school equestrians, but despite being harassed by the white players, he finds himself drawn to the sport. Written in vernacular and inspired by an actual Black polo team from Philadelphia, Neri’s story features characters who illustrate varied responses to inequality and racism: Ruthie’s wealthy family exerts legal pressure to get her into a “good” school; cousin Smush deals drugs but dreams of moving into real estate; and Cole’s dad provides local teens with an alternative to gangs and drugs. With black-and-white sketches and plenty of polo play-by-play, this is both thoughtful and entertaining. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 11/01/2021 Gr 5 Up—When Cole, a young Black boy, chooses to keep living with his dad in Philadelphia, he thinks he has it made. He'll be an urban cowboy and spend all his time riding his beloved horse. But Cole's dad gets him a job at the nearby military academy, and Cole is suddenly working long hours for polo players there, who are rich, arrogant, and white. As his life becomes more tenuous and he notices the gaping differences between his community and the academy's, Cole wonders what his future holds and what power he could possibly have to change it. This is the much-anticipated sequel to 2013's Ghetto Cowboy, and while knowing Cole's backstory may enrich the experience, it isn't necessary to appreciate everything this book has to offer. Cole is at a turning point in his life, both old enough to make big decisions for himself and to learn that the consequences can alter his life. He struggles with a distant father, a cousin trying to pull him into a dangerous business, and racial disparity in his community. His voice shines through the entire time, allowing readers to empathize deeply with his journey. Polo may seem like a surprising choice, but the practices and matches are as nail-biting as any football game. VERDICT Polo and cowboys come together, with a main character who will leap off the page and into readers' hearts, in this moving story of growing up and grit.—Kristin Brynsvold, Tuckahoe Elem. Sch., Arlington, VA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
