Cole's mother doesn't know what to do with him, as he gets into more and more trouble in his inner city Detroit school and neighborhood. She finally just gives up and takes him to the Philadelphia inner city neighborhood where Cole's father, Harper, lives; a father he's never even met. She basically dumps her son on dad's doorstep and drives off.
But the neighborhood Harper lives in is unique. Right in the middle of Philadelphia, the people in this poor, black neighborhood, keep horses. They ride horses. They devote themselves to horses. And even the gangs in the area have enough respect for theses "ghetto cowboys" to leave their neighborhood in peace.
Cole and his father don't see eye to eye on much of anything, but you know how a story like this works... they each learn some lessons and their relationship grows, as does Cole's love of the horses.
A likeable, believable narrator tells a somewhat formulaic story, but in an unusual setting.
Side note: I was interested to learn at the end of the book, that while the characters and story are fiction; there actually is a neighborhood like this in Philadelphia, which inspired the author to write the story. ( )

Narrated by JD Jackson. Cole’s mother has given up on him, unable to deal with his truancy and troublemaking. She drives him all the way from Detroit to Philadelphia to leave him with his father, Harper. Cole is surprised to learn that his father and his friends are cowboys, raising and riding horses right in the ‘hood. Cole is skeptical of being around these big animals and just wants to go back to Detroit, but an affinity with a skittish horse named Boo gets him more involved in the neighborhood’s longtime horse culture. Narrator Jackson reads Cole's story with an authentic urban vibe that will appeal to young listeners. ( )

4.25. Started reading and didn't stop until the story was done. Compelling characters, story, and history. I want to know more about the history of the real Black Cowboys of Philadelphia (and Brooklyn); yes, a unique part of history that should be celebrated (127). ( )

I loved the history G. Neri infuses throughout the book, such as learning that slaves who worked with cows were called Cowboys, thus becoming the first to be called by that name. I was surprised to learn that stables actually still exist in the inner cities of Philadelphia and Brooklyn, run by Black Cowboys to keep kids out of gangs and to give purpose to their lives.

Read more at: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/ ( )

Coltrane is a lost soul, who has just been dumped on his father whom he's never met after his mother can no longer deal with his school truancy and trouble making. His father, Harper, is one who does not know how to care for other, but does for horses. Set in ghetto Philly, Harper teaches Coltrane about what it takes to care for a horse, and in doing so finds what it takes to be a family. ( )