About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle schooler is struggling with defiance, feeling disconnected from a parent, or needs to see that their past mistakes do not define their future. Ghetto Cowboy follows fifteen year old Cole, who is sent to live with his estranged father in North Philadelphia only to discover a secret world of urban Black cowboys. Through the discipline of caring for horses and the high stakes of community activism, Cole learns about accountability and the complexity of family love. It is a gritty yet uplifting story for ages 10 to 14 that handles themes of urban poverty, systemic injustice, and father-son reconciliation with deep empathy and realism. Parents will appreciate how the story validates a teen's anger while guiding them toward constructive belonging.
