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lanica's review
3.0
I listened to this book on audio, so I was able to 'get' the dialect easily. I am not sure i would have enjoyed reading the book if the dialect had been written out. I'm going to have to find a hard copy to see how this is handled.
I like the message, but am not sure the content will draw in the intended audience...urban youths. This book has caused me to add 'high interest low level' and 'inner city youths' to my shelves.
If anyone has recommendations in this veiin, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks,
Lanica
I like the message, but am not sure the content will draw in the intended audience...urban youths. This book has caused me to add 'high interest low level' and 'inner city youths' to my shelves.
If anyone has recommendations in this veiin, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks,
Lanica
ceroon56's review
4.0
Great YA read and great adult book as well. Many of us in Philadelphia have seen these urban cowboys around for years. Glad to see the attention and money flowing their way.
saidtheraina's review
5.0
I took WAY too long to read this. Almost actually too long.
I got it originally at a library conference in 2012 (signed by the author, no less), and because I had a copy with no due date, didn't read it until summer 2016. I liked it even more than I expected to, and ended up booktalking it to my local middle schools in January 2017.
We meet Cole in the midst of a traumatic event in his life, and watch him encounter the nature of animals in an unnatural habitat. The story eventually gets to NIMBY issues, gentrification, the inner city, ownership, legality vs. morality, and a lot of other stuff which hit home for me.
Cole's voice is very strong (the first sentence: "We drivin' into the sunset, the car burning up from the heat.") with a recognizable cadence. Some might find his unfamiliarity with horse things hard to believe, but I found it insightful and illuminating. I'm sure those kids exist. I also side-eyed the illustrations at first glance, but after seeing them in context, they make sense to me. I spent a semester in north philly in college, making the story particularly vivid. I want to have hope for these characters (both horse and human). They came to life for me.
Unfortunately, copies of this book have become hard to find in my library system in the four years since it came out. Fortunately, there are other writers writing about similar themes (see [b: Riding Chance|29241310|Riding Chance|Christine Kendall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1458953880l/29241310._SY75_.jpg|49484602]).
Extra star for the underexposed topic.
I got it originally at a library conference in 2012 (signed by the author, no less), and because I had a copy with no due date, didn't read it until summer 2016. I liked it even more than I expected to, and ended up booktalking it to my local middle schools in January 2017.
We meet Cole in the midst of a traumatic event in his life, and watch him encounter the nature of animals in an unnatural habitat. The story eventually gets to NIMBY issues, gentrification, the inner city, ownership, legality vs. morality, and a lot of other stuff which hit home for me.
Cole's voice is very strong (the first sentence: "We drivin' into the sunset, the car burning up from the heat.") with a recognizable cadence. Some might find his unfamiliarity with horse things hard to believe, but I found it insightful and illuminating. I'm sure those kids exist. I also side-eyed the illustrations at first glance, but after seeing them in context, they make sense to me. I spent a semester in north philly in college, making the story particularly vivid. I want to have hope for these characters (both horse and human). They came to life for me.
Unfortunately, copies of this book have become hard to find in my library system in the four years since it came out. Fortunately, there are other writers writing about similar themes (see [b: Riding Chance|29241310|Riding Chance|Christine Kendall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1458953880l/29241310._SY75_.jpg|49484602]).
Extra star for the underexposed topic.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much. I know that I love a book when I am listening to the audio book and I don't want to get out of my car. Also, I normally do not bring my audio books inside, but with this one I had to because I didn't want to stop. I was fascinated by the modern history it shared with me about Philadelphia as well as the history about cowboys and horses. I was enthralled by Coltrane and his coming of age story. I loved most of the minor characters and I rooted for everyone throughout. The book teaches you to stand up to the man, but how to do it respectfully and maturely. I couldn't speak more highly of this book. I was so excited to get the book and book talk it (which I did as soon as I could and it was checked out right away). I also found a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcEMghqgjcg showing the Horses in North Philly that I watched and shared with my students because I loved seeing the amazing reality of the setting that G. Neri shared with us. If you want to hear me rave more, just let me know :)
eboc2024's review
4.0
Looking forward to watching the Netflix film, Concrete Cowboy” to compare. Book and film were Inspired by true stories of urban Black cowboys. Very interesting.
shazel64's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
karalee's review
5.0
I received Ghetto Cowboy and its sequel, Polo Cowboy, by G. Neri for Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022. Ghetto Cowboy is published by Candlewick Press.
12-year-old Coltrane’s mother is fed up with his behavior, so he finds himself dumped on his dad’s doorstep. But his dad’s neighborhood is nothing like back home – this community in Philadelphia has horses trotting up and down the streets and living in stables next door!
This middle-grade book deals with themes of gentrification and inner-city violence, as well as celebrates Black history (especially that of Black cowboys!), father-son relationships, and the Cowboy Way. I loved this read and am looking forward to the sequel, Polo Cowboy.
Beautiful and emotional illustrations by Jesse Joshua Watson!
12-year-old Coltrane’s mother is fed up with his behavior, so he finds himself dumped on his dad’s doorstep. But his dad’s neighborhood is nothing like back home – this community in Philadelphia has horses trotting up and down the streets and living in stables next door!
This middle-grade book deals with themes of gentrification and inner-city violence, as well as celebrates Black history (especially that of Black cowboys!), father-son relationships, and the Cowboy Way. I loved this read and am looking forward to the sequel, Polo Cowboy.
Beautiful and emotional illustrations by Jesse Joshua Watson!
crystal_reading's review
5.0
Review copy via publisher
I really enjoyed this book when I initially read it several years ago under the title Ghetto Cowboy. This was not only because it is well written, but also because it is about a neighborhood and way of life that I'd been unaware of before. Urban cowboys are certainly interesting and seeing that community working together was fascinating.
Seeing Cole and his father adjusting to each other was powerful. The interactions and relationships in the story are so compelling especially the one of father to son. I reread the book so I would be able to make connections with the sequel and then I also watched the Netflix movie. The book and the movie are both worth reading and watching though since the movie includes some things from the second book, it's a good idea to read both before watching. Here's an interesting clip with the actors talking about the father-son relationship central to the story.
I really enjoyed this book when I initially read it several years ago under the title Ghetto Cowboy. This was not only because it is well written, but also because it is about a neighborhood and way of life that I'd been unaware of before. Urban cowboys are certainly interesting and seeing that community working together was fascinating.
Seeing Cole and his father adjusting to each other was powerful. The interactions and relationships in the story are so compelling especially the one of father to son. I reread the book so I would be able to make connections with the sequel and then I also watched the Netflix movie. The book and the movie are both worth reading and watching though since the movie includes some things from the second book, it's a good idea to read both before watching. Here's an interesting clip with the actors talking about the father-son relationship central to the story.
mb_booklady's review
4.0
Cole's voice came across as authentic and the book read as if you were actually inside Cole's head to know what he was feeling and how he would describe events. It is inspired by a true story that was run in Life magazine. From the description of the book, I thought that the story would have taken place around the 1980s. I was surprised to see that Obama was mentioned in the story as the current president. However, the dialogue seemed to be right on target for this character and his friends. It was a good book that had a realistically happy ending. I felt that all the major characters had resolved their personality conflicts well enough to be happy without a happily-ever-after ending that saw Cole's parents back together, which would have been much less believable.