{"product_id":"polo-cowboy-isbn-9781536233070","title":"Polo Cowboy","description":"\u003cb\u003e“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.” —\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review) \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Cole moves in with his dad, Harp, he thinks life will be sweet—just him and his horse hanging out with Philadelphia’s urban cowboys. But when Harp says he has to get a job, Cole becomes 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, who’s determined to show the others she can beat them at their own game. As Cole and Ruthie become friends—and maybe more—he starts imagining a possible future at the academy. But between long workdays, arrogant polo players, and a cousin trying to pull Cole into his dangerous business, that future seems remote. Will Cole find the courage to stand and be seen in a world determined to keep him out? With striking illustrations by Jesse Joshua Watson, celebrated author G. Neri’s novel weaves themes of tenacity and community into a rousing sports story inspired by Philadelphia’s real-life urban cowboys and polo players.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.\u003cbr\u003e—School Library Journal (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNeri gives readers a look into another type of equestrian life while maintaining the tone and style readers appreciated in Cole’s cowboy journey. . . A skillful sequel that adds new layers to a coming-of-age story.\u003cbr\u003e—Kirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith black-and-white sketches and plenty of polo play-by-play, this is both thoughtful and entertaining.\u003cbr\u003e—Booklist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis sequel to Ghetto Cowboy (Candlewick 2011), itself the inspiration for Netflix’s Concrete Cowboy series, is sure to be a hit with middle school students and teachers, especially those looking for a heartwarming story about grit and staying true to yourself. \u003cbr\u003e—School Library Connection\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe novel is enhanced by vibrant black-and-white illustrations by Jesse Joshua Watson. Neri skillfully weaves together the evolution of Cole and Ruthie’s friendship into a tentative romance, Cole’s changing relationship with Harper and several exciting throwdowns on and off the polo field for a satisfying story for young readers. . . . seems ready-made for a movie sequel, too.\u003cbr\u003e—The Miami Herald\u003cb\u003eG. Neri\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book \u003ci\u003eYummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty\u003c\/i\u003e along with many other books for young readers, including \u003ci\u003eGhetto Cowboy\u003c\/i\u003e;\u003ci\u003e Hello, I’m Johnny Cash\u003c\/i\u003e; and \u003ci\u003eWhen Paul Met Artie: The Story of Simon and Garfunkel\u003c\/i\u003e. His books have been translated into multiple languages in more than twenty-five countries. He lives with his family on the Gulf Coast of Florida.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJesse Joshua Watson\u003c\/b\u003e is the illustrator of many books for young readers, including the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e best-selling Hank Zipzer series, written by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, and \u003ci\u003eGhetto Cowboy \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Chess Rumble\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eboth written by G. Neri. He lives with his wife and sons in Washington.Mama is fuming. “Say that again.”\u003cbr\u003e   I swallow and take a deep breath. “I ain’t goin’ back to Detroit.”\u003cbr\u003e   Five minutes ago, we was celebrating. I almost beat Harper in our first horse race—even though I’m pretty sure he let me get that close. Mama’s here visiting, and we was being all family-like again, laughing and telling jokes at the Speedway in the middle of the biggest nature park in Philadelphia.\u003cbr\u003e   It was a great day. But then she asked me when I was gonna come back home again.\u003cbr\u003e   \u003ci\u003eHome\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e   Ever since I came back to Philly to stay with my dad for the summer, I only felt one thing:\u003ci\u003e This my \u003c\/i\u003ehome \u003ci\u003enow.\u003c\/i\u003e Where my horse, Boo, is. Where the fellas is. Where our stable, the Ritz-Carlton, is. The Ritz may have been just a run-down garage before, but to us, this barn is like the fanciest hotel in the neighborhood—the place to be and be seen—so that’s why we call it that. It’s my real home. Not Detroit, where Mama lives.\u003cbr\u003e   I didn’t wanna say that out loud, but she kept asking. Now I swear her eyes is gonna drill a hole through my head.\u003cbr\u003e   “You the one who brung me here in the first place,” I say to her stare.\u003cbr\u003e   It was only a year or so ago, so I know she remembers. Who forgets ditching their boy on the doorstep of a daddy he’s never met?\u003cbr\u003e   She sighs. “I thought we had a deal. Summers here, school year back in Detroit.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e   Deal, schmeal.\u003c\/i\u003e “I wanna go to school with my friends here, in Philly.”\u003cbr\u003e   That’s not exactly true. Most my friends is cowboys or small kids who come to the stables to learn. So I confess the real reason: “Besides, Boo needs me.”\u003cbr\u003e   That don’t sit right with her. “Boo’s a horse,” she say. “\u003ci\u003eI \u003c\/i\u003eneed you.”\u003cbr\u003e   “Then move back to Philly,” I say. “You gettin’ along with Harp now. Why can’t we be a family again? In Philly.”\u003cbr\u003e   I can tell that knocks her for a loop. “Life don’t work that way, Cole. I can’t just pick up and leave my life behind. I got a job, responsibilities. I can’t just go back to a relationship that’s been dead all these years. It’s not that easy.”\u003cbr\u003e   I don’t wanna hurt her feelings. But truth is, I am happier here, and she knows it.\u003cbr\u003e   We stand there for a long time, thinking what to say next. Boo is eating grass behind me. Harper, my dad (even though I don’t like to call him that), is on his horse, waiting for us to leave. I don’t want Mama to go, but standing here just makes it harder to say goodbye.\u003cbr\u003e   “What about your future?” she asks.\u003cbr\u003e   “What about it?”\u003cbr\u003e   She sighs. “World’s a tough place, Cole. Ain’t got no room for young black men. You gonna end up like your cousin Smush or make something of yourself?”\u003cbr\u003e   I look over at Smush, who’s rolling dice on the basketball court. He’s a dropout and sometimes corner boy who always finding trouble, even when he’s helping out.\u003cbr\u003e   Then I look at Harp and the other horsemen getting ready to ride back to the neighborhood. “What’s wrong with bein’ a cowboy?”\u003cbr\u003e   She almost laughs. “Being a cowboy isn’t a job. Plus, it’ll suck up any money you do manage to make. Just ask your dad. Your only hope is to find a way to college.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e   College?\u003c\/i\u003e “Why I gotta be thinkin’ about college? I’m only fourteen. What’s that gotta do with stayin’ here?”\u003cbr\u003e   She glances over at Harp. “I’m not so sure your dad is thinking about your future. He’s not even thinking about his own.”\u003cbr\u003e   I stare at the ground for the longest time, trying to find the words. I wanna tell her I love her, that this ain’t got nothing to do with the past.\u003cbr\u003e   Instead what comes out is “Maybe, but I still wanna stay in Philly.”\u003cbr\u003e   She stares at me like she trying to read my mind, like she trying to see if I really feel that way or if I’m just being a teenager.\u003cbr\u003e   Then she laughs, but not in a funny way. “You just like your daddy. Love that horse more than me.”\u003cbr\u003e   She turns to leave, and it feels like she just put a knife in my back. “Wait,” I say.\u003cbr\u003e   She stops, shakes her head. I grab her from behind. She sighs and pulls me into a bear hug till I can’t breathe. “I love you too,” she says.\u003cbr\u003e   Then she walks away before we both lose it.\u003cbr\u003e   I need to get my head together.\u003cbr\u003e   Am I sure about this? Move to Philly for real? I ain’t even asked Harp about this yet. I just been playing it out in my head.\u003cbr\u003e   “Looks like you two had words,” says Harp, like he’s had a word or two with her hisself.\u003cbr\u003e   I nod, but I ain’t ready to get into it. “I’m sure you’ll hear all about it before she head back tonight.” I expect more grilling, but Harp don’t say nothing.\u003cbr\u003e   “You mind if I take Boo out?” I ask.\u003cbr\u003e   He sees I don’t wanna talk. “See ya back at the Ritz.”","brand":"Candlewick","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233482092773,"sku":"NP9781536233070","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781536233070_9a0e7476-5b27-4d69-9579-a6e8b2dc6b30.jpg?v=1767734947","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/polo-cowboy-isbn-9781536233070","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}