Ghetto Cowboy

Gr 5—8—Cole has lived in Detroit with his mother for as long as he can remember. His father has never been part of their life. So, when Cole's mother, unable to handle parenting an adolescent boy alone, drops him off in front of his father's Philadelphia home, Cole is beyond surprised. And then the horse appears. Cole's father is an urban cowboy, part of a small group that cares for retired racehorses in the city's abandoned inner-city lots. Just as Cole begins to get comfortable with his new life—living with his dad, mucking out stables, learning to ride—the city threatens to take away everything he has come to love. Desperate to save the stables and his horse, Cole has to step up and become the responsible young man his father knows he can be. G. Neri's compelling tale (Candlewick, 2011), complemented by JD Jackson's smooth narration, will resonate with many urban kids. The story's drama is based on real life events, a fact that will intrigue listeners. An excellent choice for school and public libraries.—Beth Gallego, Los Angeles Public Library, CA