Concrete Cowboy

G. Neri's "Concrete Cowboy" (originally "Ghetto Cowboy") tells the powerful story of 15-year-old Cole, who is sent from Detroit to live with his estranged father, Harp, in North Philadelphia. Expecting a tough urban environment, Cole is shocked to find his father is part of a vibrant, little-known community of Black urban cowboys who keep horses in city stables. Initially resistant and drawn to his drug-dealing cousin Smush, Cole slowly learns the responsibilities of stable life and the value of this unique community. The book tackles complex themes of family reconciliation, finding belonging, making difficult choices, and fighting for a cause, culminating in a poignant struggle to save the stables and a tragic loss. It's a gritty yet heartwarming tale inspired by real-life urban riders.

From a Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor recipient comes a street-smart tale about a displaced teen who learns to defend what’s right—the Cowboy Way. Now available in a movie tie-in editon. When Cole’s mom dumps him in Philadelphia to live with the dad he’s never met, the last thing Cole expects to see is a horse, let alone a stable full of them. He may not know much about cowboys, but what he knows for sure is that cowboys aren’t black, and they don’t live in the inner city. But in his dad’s world, horses are a way of life, and soon Cole’s days of skipping school and getting in trouble in Detroit have been replaced by shoveling muck and trying not to get stomped on. At first, all Cole can think about is how to ditch these ghetto cowboys and get home. But when the City threatens to shut down the stables—and take away the horse Cole has come to think of as his own—he knows that it’s time to step up and fight back. Inspired by the little-known urban riders of Philly and Brooklyn, this compelling tale of latter-day cowboy justice champions a world where your friends always have your back, especially when the chips are down.