Today I finished two
amazing books, Ghetto Cowboy and Addie on the Inside. Both came
highly recommended from friends on Twitter.
Ghetto Cowboy is written by G. Neri. He also wrote Yummy: The
Last Days of the Southside Shorty. I haven’t read that one and now it is on
my “to read” list.
Watch this amazing video
for a quick summary:
Ghetto Cowboy follows the story of Cole (or Coltrane) as his mom drives him from Detroit to Philadelphia. He has gotten in trouble in school, again, and she just can’t handle Cole anymore. She drives him to Philly to meet his dad, Harper, for the first time. Cole is angry with his mom for abandoning him and is also trying to figure out what kind of person he is. Is he truly this troublemaker from Detroit – headed down the wrong path? Who is his father and why does he love horses more than his own son? Through his dad, the guys at the stable, and the horses – Cole learns the cowboy way. All I can say is read this book.
Reading level: 5th and up
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Appeals to: Boys and Girls
Rating: Five Stars
Release date: Out now
Addie on the Inside is by James Howe. This is a companion to the books
The Misfits and Totally Joe. They follow a group of friends who
are misfits at their middle school. The story is told in free verse and follows
Addie, the only girl in the group of misfits. You get to know Addie’s insecurities
as she deals with the pitfalls of junior high.
I loved this book. Addie is outspoken and knows what she stands for –
and stands up for her beliefs even when that causes her to be ostracized more.
One of my favorite quotes was from page 151:
“Maybe it would be better not to think,” I say. “Sometimes thinking
hurts.”
“It isn’t the thinking that hurts,” she (Grandma) says, smoothing my
hair. “It’s the caring.”
Reading level: 5th and up
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Appeals to: Girls mainly – some boys
Rating: Five Stars
Release date: Out now
