Ghetto Cowboy
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4.4 • 40 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
When Cole’s mom dumps him in the mean streets of Philadelphia to live with the dad he’s never met, the last thing Cole expects to see is a horse, let alone a stable full of them. He may not know much about cowboys, but what he knows for sure is that cowboys aren’t black, and they don’t live in the inner city. But in his dad’s ’hood, horses are a way of life, and soon Cole’s days of skipping school and getting in trouble in Detroit have been replaced by shoveling muck and trying not to get stomped on. At first, all Cole can think about is how to ditch these ghetto cowboys and get home. But when the City threatens to shut down the stables— and take away the horse Cole has come to think of as his own— he knows that it’s time to step up and fight back. Inspired by the little-known urban riders of Philly and Brooklyn, this compelling tale of latter -day cowboy justice champions a world where your friends always have your back, especially when the chips are down.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Cowboys in North Philly? Yep. With this emotional father-son story, author G. Neri immerses us in the fascinating world of the Black horsemen of Philadelphia. After 12-year-old Cole starts going down a bad path in Detroit, he’s dropped off with his estranged father in Philadelphia. Initially, he’s unimpressed with his dad’s urban stables, especially when his white sneakers get ruined while cleaning them out. But as Cole learns that his father is part of a tradition that dates back to before the Civil War—and that he and his friends teach kids to ride horses as an alternative to gang life—he becomes dedicated to protecting the stables when the city threatens to tear them down. By the end of this heartwarming and empowering read, we were completely invested, simultaneously teary-eyed and exuberant. Ghetto Cowboy teaches us about a magical slice of contemporary culture.
Customer Reviews
Great Read
Excellent book - way better than the film Urban Cowboy. Definitely a must read.
I didn’t read the book yet
I didn’t read the book yet I just watch the movie on Netflix and it was great I think I might read it
Wonderful read
Didn’t know what to expect when I started reading, but finished it in 2 days. Will pass it along to my young son to read. It was a really good read, opened my eyes to a whole part of black history I never knew anything of. Only heard every now and then about real black cowboys. I will be doing some more looking them up..