Jesse’s Books

Polo Cowboy

ABOUT POLO COWBOY

How does a Black kid from North Philly wind up playing polo? The much-anticipated sequel to Ghetto Cowboy, now a major motion picture starring Idris Elba and Stranger Things’s Caleb McLaughlin.

When Cole moves in with his dad, Harp, he thinks life will be sweet—just him and his horse, Boo, hanging out with Philadelphia’s urban cowboys. But when Harp says he has to get a job, Cole winds up as 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 his future, maybe even 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.

Concrete Cowboy (Ghetto Cowboy movie tie in release)

ABOUT CONCRETE COWBOY: MOVIE TIE-IN (GHETTO COWBOY)

See the film on Netflix, starring Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin

When Cole’s mom dumps him in the mean streets of Philly to live with the dad he’s never met, the last thing he 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 ain’t black, and they don’t live in the ‘hood. But in this ‘hood, horses are a way of life, and when the City threatens to shut down the stables, Cole realizes it’s time to stand up for what’s right—the Cowboy Way.

Ghetto Cowboy

ABOUT GHETTO COWBOY (THE INSPIRATION FOR CONCRETE COWBOY)

Now a feature film, Concrete Cowboy, starring Idris Elba

“Original in theme and inspirational in tone and content.” — Booklist

From a Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor winner comes a street- smart tale about a displaced teen who learns to defend what’s right — the Cowboy Way. 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.

Chess Rumble

ABOUT CHESS RUMBLE

Award Winning illustrated novella that started the Neri/Watson dynamic duo.

Three moves
is all it takes
to change the outcome
of the game.

In Marcus's world, battles are fought everyday—on the street, at home, and in school. Angered by his sister's death and his father's absence, and pushed to the brink by a bullying classmate, Marcus fights back with his fists.

One punch away from being kicked out of school and his home, Marcus encounters CM, an unlikely chess master who challenges him to fight his battles on the chess board. Guarded and distrusting, Marcus must endure more hard lessons before he can accept CM's help to regain control of his life.

Inspired by inner-city school chess enrichment programs, Chess Rumble explores the ways this strategic game empowers young people with the skills they need to anticipate and calculate their moves through life.

Paperback | $7.99
Published by Lee & Low Books

ISBN

Hardcover: 9781584302797

Paperback: 9781620141892

Six Pack: 9781620142042

Awards

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
American Library Association (ALA)

Notable Books in the Language Arts
National Council of Teachers of English

Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award
International Reading Association (IRA)

Top Picks for Reluctant Readers
BoysRead.org

Reviews & Comments

Keith Schoch, How to Teach a Novel
Teaching That Sticks
The Happy Nappy Bookseller
Reviewed Books Recommended by Librarians, Teachers, Parents, and Students for Irving ISD
Maw Books
JRobichess
Miami Family Magazine
Curriculum Connections
Chessville
The Chess Drum
The Texarkana Gazette
Counterpoise
People’s Weekly World
BookBuds
Kate Messner
The Brown Bookshelf
The Port Townsend Leader
BoysRead.org
Erin Marie
The Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children
Booklist
School Library Journal
Kirkus Reviews

Jun 01, 2021 | 240 Pages | 5-1/8 x 7-5/8 | Middle Grade (10 and up) | ISBN 9781536217353

The Soccer Fence

ABOUT THE SOCCER FENCE

In a country struggling with acceptance, hope can come in many different forms.

As a boy, Hector loved playing soccer in his small Johannesburg township. He dreamed of playing on a real pitch with the boys from another part of the city, but apartheid made that impossible. Then, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and apartheid began to crumble. The march toward freedom in South Africa was a slow one, but when the beloved Bafana Bafana national soccer team won the African Cup of Nations, Hector realized that dreams once impossible could now come true.

This poignant story of friendship artfully depicts a brief but critical moment in South Africa's history and the unique role that sports can play in bringing people together.

PRODUCT DETAILS