I've seen this book countless times in the school library and the artwork grabbed my attention. However, the idea of a book about horses did not appeal to me so I avoided checking it out. I also couldn't figure out what a ghetto cowboy was. But, that's the job of Greg Neri, the author. It's G. Neri's job to educate me. It's the role of any author. Tell a story and educate the reader. G. Neri does both in expert fashion.
Horses. A whole book about horses? I didn't think I could make it through an entire book about horses. I do remember enjoying King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry when I was in fourth grade. It won the Newberry Medal in 1949. She also wrote Misty of Chincoteague, which I read and enjoyed. I loved The Black Stallion movie released in 1979. I was seven years old when I saw it in the theater. I never read the book, but the movie inspired me to read King of the Wind.
Horses. The horses in this book do play an important role in Ghetto Cowboy, but Cole the main character is what pulls you in right away and doesn't let you go. You have to keep reading this book and Cole's voice powers you through the book at a blistering pace. Cole and his mom are speeding along the highway in the opening scene. Cole just got into trouble at school, which is nothing new for Cole. But, his mom is trying to figure out what to do with him. He keeps getting in trouble. So Cole's mother turns to someone for help and Cole can't understand why his mother is abandoning him.
How could I not like a book in which the main character is named after John Coltrane? Cole soon learns how his name came to be, but if you want to find out how and why Cole was named after John Coltrane you'll have to read Ghetto Cowboy.
Horses. A whole book about horses? I didn't think I could make it through an entire book about horses. I do remember enjoying King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry when I was in fourth grade. It won the Newberry Medal in 1949. She also wrote Misty of Chincoteague, which I read and enjoyed. I loved The Black Stallion movie released in 1979. I was seven years old when I saw it in the theater. I never read the book, but the movie inspired me to read King of the Wind.
Horses. The horses in this book do play an important role in Ghetto Cowboy, but Cole the main character is what pulls you in right away and doesn't let you go. You have to keep reading this book and Cole's voice powers you through the book at a blistering pace. Cole and his mom are speeding along the highway in the opening scene. Cole just got into trouble at school, which is nothing new for Cole. But, his mom is trying to figure out what to do with him. He keeps getting in trouble. So Cole's mother turns to someone for help and Cole can't understand why his mother is abandoning him.
How could I not like a book in which the main character is named after John Coltrane? Cole soon learns how his name came to be, but if you want to find out how and why Cole was named after John Coltrane you'll have to read Ghetto Cowboy.