Teen Tuesday and Arc Review: Polo Cowboy by G. Neri

Image: Candlewick Press

Polo Cowboy by G. Neri. Illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson. 288 p. Candlewick Press, October, 2021. 9781536207118. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Tuesday! And Happy Lunar New Year! I am looking forward to our assembly at school today. The Korean Parents' Association always puts together a wonderful, enriching experience each year. Today is the beginning of Black History Month and, though I try to feature diverse literature all year long, not just in the "designated" months, the emphasis this month will be on works by Black authors.

Teen Tuesday features Polo Cowboy by G. Neri. This is a companion/ sequel to Ghetto Cowboy, which I featured on a #tbt a while back. Cole's mom agrees to let him stay in Philadelphia with his dad. Cole's happy not to leave his horse, Boo and looking forward to spending more time riding. Harp bursts that bubble by insisting that Cole get a job grooming polo ponies at a tony military academy outside the city. Polo ponies! Now Cole needs to contend with substandard conditions at his inner-city high school and take a bus after school to groom polo ponies for rich stuck-up white boys. They are arrogant and treat Cole and one team member terribly. Ruthie is the only girl not only on the polo team, but at the military academy. She's also Black, but Cole has a hard time looking at her. While she's pretty and an excellent polo player, she has a skin condition that affects her pigmentation and makes for an easy target for her teammates. Cole is also trying to resist the lure of easy money that his cousin is offering. Cole is a cowboy through and through, but when he takes Ruthie up on her offer to teach him how to play polo, he's intrigued.

As in Ghetto Cowboy, there are beautiful black and white illustrations that enhance this compelling story of grit, determination and staying true to oneself. While the story can stand alone, I highly recommend reading both books to appreciate Cole's growth as well as the arc of his relationship with Harp.