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Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever
"A marvelous addition to the literature of inspirational sports stories." - Booklist (Starred Review)
"This remarkable and inspiring story shines." - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
An inspiring memoir of defying the odds from Kareem Rosser, captain of the first all-black squad to win the National Interscholastic Polo championship. "Crossing the Line will not just leave you with hope, but also ideas on how to make that hope transferable” (New York Times bestselling author Wes Moore).
Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Kareem thought he and his siblings would always be stuck in “The Bottom”, a community and neighborhood devastated by poverty and violence. Riding their bicycles through Philly’s Fairmount Park, Kareem’s brothers discover a barn full of horses. Noticing the brothers’ fascination with her misfit animals, Lezlie Hiner, founder of The Work to Ride stables, offers them their escape: an after school job in exchange for riding lessons.
What starts as an accidental discovery turns into a love for horseback riding that leads the Rossers to discovering their passion for polo. Pursuing the sport with determination and discipline, Kareem earns his place among the typically exclusive players in college, becoming part of the first all-Black national interscholastic polo championship team—all while struggling to keep his family together.
Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever is the story of bonds of brotherhood, family loyalty, the transformative connection between man and horse, and forging a better future that comes from overcoming impossible odds.
"This remarkable and inspiring story shines." - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
An inspiring memoir of defying the odds from Kareem Rosser, captain of the first all-black squad to win the National Interscholastic Polo championship. "Crossing the Line will not just leave you with hope, but also ideas on how to make that hope transferable” (New York Times bestselling author Wes Moore).
Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Kareem thought he and his siblings would always be stuck in “The Bottom”, a community and neighborhood devastated by poverty and violence. Riding their bicycles through Philly’s Fairmount Park, Kareem’s brothers discover a barn full of horses. Noticing the brothers’ fascination with her misfit animals, Lezlie Hiner, founder of The Work to Ride stables, offers them their escape: an after school job in exchange for riding lessons.
What starts as an accidental discovery turns into a love for horseback riding that leads the Rossers to discovering their passion for polo. Pursuing the sport with determination and discipline, Kareem earns his place among the typically exclusive players in college, becoming part of the first all-Black national interscholastic polo championship team—all while struggling to keep his family together.
Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever is the story of bonds of brotherhood, family loyalty, the transformative connection between man and horse, and forging a better future that comes from overcoming impossible odds.
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First published February 9, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 361 reviews
June 8, 2021
This book was incredible. It’s not only a discussion of race and representation in the sport but also a good brief commentary on the horse world. I just loved it. It was hard and heartbreaking, it was inspiring and spoke to my inner horse girl. It’s also local, I know the work to ride farm so it ft a little more personal to me; especially the retraining of the ottb: speaking right to my soul there. I loved every second of this book and want to shove it into everyone’s hands now.
February 9, 2021
After finishing this book, I imagined a multiple-choice sports quiz, where one of the questions would be: Kareem Rosser started playing which sport as a child in his violent Philadelphia inner-city neighborhood? A) Football B) Basketball C) Baseball D) Polo. Of course, most anyone who never heard of Mr. Rosser would laugh as soon as they saw “polo”, knowing it could not possible be polo! Only, it was polo. One day, when he was a child growing up in a poor family of six kids, his two older brothers discovered The Work To Ride Stables in a nearby park. Founder Lezlie Hiner was giving inner-city kids the chance to ride horses, which would hopefully motivate them to do well in school, stay out of trouble, and have a future that didn’t involve jail or the cemetery.
For Kareem Rosser, riding horses not only did all that, but also stopped the panic attacks he was having. He lived in a very violent area, where he said a disagreement with another kid could easily involve a gun. There were no real father figures in his or his sibling’s lives, although he regularly saw his father around the neighborhood, drinking in a field. His mother had a drug problem at times, but still kept the family together, until a kid could no longer be controlled. Horseback riding and polo provided the structure Mr. Rosser, an older brother and a younger brother needed to move forward in life in a constructive manner. Unfortunately, his older brother Bee, a star in the polo world, would quit riding, stop moving forward in life, and ended up going to prison.
The incarceration of his two older brothers, as well as his fears of what direction his other siblings might take, weighed heavily on Kareem Rosser. As a teenager, his best friend met a horrid fate, too. Horses and polo gave him something else to focus on, something to excel in, something to dream about, not have nightmares about. The reader learns a lot about polo from this memoir; plus learns a lot about trying to move upward in life, as well as upward in an exclusive type of sport; when many were expecting a downward direction for you, a doomed life one way or another; because of your background and the color of your skin. This is a highly readable, extremely well-written and unique memoir. There’s not an ounce of self-pity or cries of injustice, either. An outstanding, truly heartfelt read.
(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher or author.)
For Kareem Rosser, riding horses not only did all that, but also stopped the panic attacks he was having. He lived in a very violent area, where he said a disagreement with another kid could easily involve a gun. There were no real father figures in his or his sibling’s lives, although he regularly saw his father around the neighborhood, drinking in a field. His mother had a drug problem at times, but still kept the family together, until a kid could no longer be controlled. Horseback riding and polo provided the structure Mr. Rosser, an older brother and a younger brother needed to move forward in life in a constructive manner. Unfortunately, his older brother Bee, a star in the polo world, would quit riding, stop moving forward in life, and ended up going to prison.
The incarceration of his two older brothers, as well as his fears of what direction his other siblings might take, weighed heavily on Kareem Rosser. As a teenager, his best friend met a horrid fate, too. Horses and polo gave him something else to focus on, something to excel in, something to dream about, not have nightmares about. The reader learns a lot about polo from this memoir; plus learns a lot about trying to move upward in life, as well as upward in an exclusive type of sport; when many were expecting a downward direction for you, a doomed life one way or another; because of your background and the color of your skin. This is a highly readable, extremely well-written and unique memoir. There’s not an ounce of self-pity or cries of injustice, either. An outstanding, truly heartfelt read.
(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher or author.)
June 18, 2020
I read this in two sittings only because I had to eat dinner in between those two sittings—otherwise, you couldn't tear me away from CROSSING THE LINE. It's a fantastic book, visceral but poised, from an author and an athlete that we all need to watch. Gripping, powerful, highly recommend.
November 18, 2020
Wow, what a book. What an inspiring life from a men who had everything against him as a child and through the inspirational program, “Work to Ride,” learn discipline and the love of polo. And through the love of Polo found a whole world that taught him to strive to be the best and to never give up even when his life was the hardest. I love the affection the whole family had toward one another even when some let them down and I loved the stories of all the horses and how they encouraged the kids that went to the ranch to keep striving to do better.
The book is very easy to read and it was hard putting it down when I had to go to sleep. I would love to see this as a documentary.
I want to thank St. Martin Press and Netgalley for an advance copy of this wonderful memoir.
The book is very easy to read and it was hard putting it down when I had to go to sleep. I would love to see this as a documentary.
I want to thank St. Martin Press and Netgalley for an advance copy of this wonderful memoir.
March 31, 2024
I did not know it was possible to polo your way out the hood. I’m a sucker for redemption stories, really enjoyed this one.
February 22, 2021
Kareem Rosser is a wonderful writer and story-teller. And he plays polo. His memoir is probably the best I’ve read. I stayed up way too late to finish reading this in one sitting because I so much wanted to know how it all turned out. Just excellent.
December 13, 2021
Crossing the Line is for anyone who loves a good underdog story, although this one has some tough subject matter. The author suffered from crippling, debilitating anxiety because of the trauma in his life at a young age. His home life was unstable, and a few tragedies happen in his childhood that would leave a lesser person broken. Rosser, however, found sanctuary in the Chamounix Equestrian Center, where he was able to immerse himself in the game of polo. Here, Rosser found hope and saw a path out of the poverty in which he lived and was raised. He was averse to the drug culture that swallowed so many of his peers and three of his six siblings.
Rosser's story is as much about him as about the teacher at the equestrian center that does not give up on the children who go there for escape & to have a sense of greater purpose. It sounds like a ragtag operation, with horses that were meant for the glue factory, and weather conditions that disallow practice year-round. Despite all this, Rosser found his passion, kept with it, and was able to earn scholarships to prestigious institutions. The book is sad, but overall inspirational. It has all the best ingredients for a tear-filled triumphant ending. The story is not over as the center is still operational and Rosser plays a supporting role in keeping the center funded.
Rosser's story is as much about him as about the teacher at the equestrian center that does not give up on the children who go there for escape & to have a sense of greater purpose. It sounds like a ragtag operation, with horses that were meant for the glue factory, and weather conditions that disallow practice year-round. Despite all this, Rosser found his passion, kept with it, and was able to earn scholarships to prestigious institutions. The book is sad, but overall inspirational. It has all the best ingredients for a tear-filled triumphant ending. The story is not over as the center is still operational and Rosser plays a supporting role in keeping the center funded.
September 26, 2020
Thank you to #NetGalley, Kareem Rosser and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for my honest review. Crossing the River by Kareem Rosser is his story of growing up in the projects of Philadelphia and overcoming the odds to become the captain of the first all black squad to win the National Interscholastic Polo championship. It is an inspiring story but one that comes with many heartbreaking moments. From the time he was ten, Rosser knew he wanted to go to college and play polo. Thanks to Lezlie Hiner, who founded the Work to Ride stables and introduced him to polo, he was able to fulfill that dream. Hiner offered children an opportunity to escape the violence and poverty of their neighborhoods in exchange for riding lessons and Rosser took advantage of that. In his neighborhood children were more likely to drop out of school and go to jail than they were to finish high school and go to college. Rosser had the determination and the discipline to succeed while he was struggling to keep his family from falling apart. This is a powerful book and I highly recommend it. It should definitely be made into a movie.
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February 15, 2021Crossing the Line is a peek into a whole world I didn't know existed. I grew up in the country, surrounded by horses; when I briefly moved to a city, there were exactly zero horses that weren't pulling tourist's carriages downtown. But in Philadelphia, not only are there horsemen called the Black Cowboys, there's a little barn with a program called Work to Ride that teaches kids how to play polo!
Kareem Rosser is brutally honest about his life growing up in West Philadelphia, but he is never bitter. He speaks with love and respect of the people in his life, and with awe of the bittersweet circumstances that brought him where he is today. The stories of his younger life with his siblings are tough, but the stories of his years at military school are no easier. He is tough, despite describing his fears; he is strong, despite his personal history of anxiety and panic attacks. This is a story for people who love polo. This is a story for people who love horses. This is a story for people who love underdogs. This is a story for people who are anxious, or caring, or lost, or bold, or hopeful.
Kareem Rosser is brutally honest about his life growing up in West Philadelphia, but he is never bitter. He speaks with love and respect of the people in his life, and with awe of the bittersweet circumstances that brought him where he is today. The stories of his younger life with his siblings are tough, but the stories of his years at military school are no easier. He is tough, despite describing his fears; he is strong, despite his personal history of anxiety and panic attacks. This is a story for people who love polo. This is a story for people who love horses. This is a story for people who love underdogs. This is a story for people who are anxious, or caring, or lost, or bold, or hopeful.
March 6, 2025
Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, this memoir takes a high concept oddity (poor Black kid escapes from Philadelphia ghetto using mad skills in… polo??) and turns it into a fascinating narrative. The Work to Ride stables provides an escape from violence and despair for Kareem Rosser and his brother Gerb, while other, equally talented, family and friends aren’t able to take advantage of that escape route. Rosser speaks with compassion of his mom - 14 years old when her first child is born - his coach Lezlie, and his awful sounding prep school Valley Forge. I was struck by how escape seems like the only option.
August 8, 2023
Audiobook
July 21, 2021
I'm not crying, you're crying. 'bout sums up this book.
I can see why it was a JLG adult pick for our HS library collection. I had pulled it to start reading it when it came in but thought I'd give it a little more focus this summer and I'm glad I did. What a phenomenal story told by a guy who isn't a writer, but a man who wanted to tell his story. This is the best of memoir for sure because in telling his story he can be both an inspiration and beacon to others but also talk about voices that are marginalized. In addition to discussing polo as a sport the same way Ibtihaj Muhammad talked about fencing in her book Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream and Arshay Cooper talked about rowing in his book A Most Beautiful Thing-- being Black and competing in a sport known for it's whiteness.
I'm gushing over Rosser's storytelling. Following a generally chronological approach from when his siblings discovered the barn in West Philadelphia run by Lezlie through his intercollegiate awards for playing in college and becoming the finance director for the Friends of Work to Ride program that allowed him to Work to Ride when he was a young one, there are scenes that jump around a bit but focus on the emotional, physical, mental, socioeconomic elements of his life in a way that lays it bare while being respectful of his family's life, his upbringing in The Bottom, and his interactions with racist, classist folks.
Ultimately, he doesn't need to be heavy-handed because his story speaks for itself. You never know what can save you at any time. There's grit and determination. There's people that believe in you. There's people that will actively root against you- how do you keep out the haters? There's times where you'll break down and where tragedy could drag you down with it (because who didn't bawl when he told Mecca's story). Yet, his story needs a megaphone for so many reasons.
"I heard the neigh again. My heart started to pound. I knew that sound. I couldn't be anyone else. I turned around slowly, afraid to say his name out loud. Even louder. A trumpet of pure joy. He had seen me. And finally, I saw him, at the end of the stables, his neck stretched out over the stall door, the little white star shining on his forehead, straining toward me and making excited little nickers. I burst into tears and ran to him, not caring that Harris and Jones were watching, not caring that I looked like a big baby, wrapping my arms around Cholo's neck, burying my face in his mane. Lezlie had sent me my pony. She'd given me a reason to stay."
"We were strong because of our mothers. Lazette and Tanya might have raised us in different ways and made different kinds of parenting choices, but they both ended up with confident, accomplished children who were working hard to figure it all out... We were strong because of Lezlie. Having a coach who loved you like a mother might be a little embarrassing sometimes, but I'd realized that her warm encouragement and pride was worth a hundred ten-goal coaches screaming out plays and berating their teams for not doing what they were told. Lezlie had given her life over to us and the barn; there was nothing she wouldn't do to see us succeed. Without her, we might just be kids on the street, with no particular future in sight. Lezlie shaped our lives, she taught us to work and play, she brought us once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and then made sure we followed through on them. She gave us horses. And because we loved her just as fiercely as she loved us, we worked as hard as we could to make her proud."
"We were strong because of The Bottom."
I can see why it was a JLG adult pick for our HS library collection. I had pulled it to start reading it when it came in but thought I'd give it a little more focus this summer and I'm glad I did. What a phenomenal story told by a guy who isn't a writer, but a man who wanted to tell his story. This is the best of memoir for sure because in telling his story he can be both an inspiration and beacon to others but also talk about voices that are marginalized. In addition to discussing polo as a sport the same way Ibtihaj Muhammad talked about fencing in her book Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream and Arshay Cooper talked about rowing in his book A Most Beautiful Thing-- being Black and competing in a sport known for it's whiteness.
I'm gushing over Rosser's storytelling. Following a generally chronological approach from when his siblings discovered the barn in West Philadelphia run by Lezlie through his intercollegiate awards for playing in college and becoming the finance director for the Friends of Work to Ride program that allowed him to Work to Ride when he was a young one, there are scenes that jump around a bit but focus on the emotional, physical, mental, socioeconomic elements of his life in a way that lays it bare while being respectful of his family's life, his upbringing in The Bottom, and his interactions with racist, classist folks.
Ultimately, he doesn't need to be heavy-handed because his story speaks for itself. You never know what can save you at any time. There's grit and determination. There's people that believe in you. There's people that will actively root against you- how do you keep out the haters? There's times where you'll break down and where tragedy could drag you down with it (because who didn't bawl when he told Mecca's story). Yet, his story needs a megaphone for so many reasons.
"I heard the neigh again. My heart started to pound. I knew that sound. I couldn't be anyone else. I turned around slowly, afraid to say his name out loud. Even louder. A trumpet of pure joy. He had seen me. And finally, I saw him, at the end of the stables, his neck stretched out over the stall door, the little white star shining on his forehead, straining toward me and making excited little nickers. I burst into tears and ran to him, not caring that Harris and Jones were watching, not caring that I looked like a big baby, wrapping my arms around Cholo's neck, burying my face in his mane. Lezlie had sent me my pony. She'd given me a reason to stay."
"We were strong because of our mothers. Lazette and Tanya might have raised us in different ways and made different kinds of parenting choices, but they both ended up with confident, accomplished children who were working hard to figure it all out... We were strong because of Lezlie. Having a coach who loved you like a mother might be a little embarrassing sometimes, but I'd realized that her warm encouragement and pride was worth a hundred ten-goal coaches screaming out plays and berating their teams for not doing what they were told. Lezlie had given her life over to us and the barn; there was nothing she wouldn't do to see us succeed. Without her, we might just be kids on the street, with no particular future in sight. Lezlie shaped our lives, she taught us to work and play, she brought us once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and then made sure we followed through on them. She gave us horses. And because we loved her just as fiercely as she loved us, we worked as hard as we could to make her proud."
"We were strong because of The Bottom."
November 6, 2021
A compelling autobiographical story of a young African-American boy growing up in one of the toughest areas of Philadelphia. He and his brothers discover a stable of horses in their neighborhood and it sets them on a most unlikely path to the world of Polo. Kareem, the narrator goes through periods of rebellion and darkness but the horses are always there to keep him centered. Leslie, the stable owner makes it her life purpose to keep Kareem, his brothers and the other at-risk boys and girls in her sights and out of harms way. She doesn't always succeed. Kareem's two older brothers wander away despite the obvious talent and love of the game of Polo. There are moments of terrible sorrow as Kareem comes face to face with the realities of living in West Philly: murder, domestic violence, drug and alcohol addiction. But he is given the opportunity to leave it behind when a generous scholarship to Valley Forge Military Academy becomes his ticket out. The road is never a smooth one but, gradually, Kareem learns to use his talent and intelligence to make a better life for himself and his younger brother, Gerb. Watching this young man mature throughout the book is one of the most remarkable stories I have ever read.
August 7, 2022
Easily my favorite book of 2022. This book made me so emotional! Kareem's story, and especially the way he writes it, is so powerful. I think it's amazing how something as unique as polo (especially since underdog sport stories are usually centered around football or basketball) was the reason for getting him through "The Bottom" and through a life surrounded, and effected by, so much trauma and violence. I've never read a memoir by a professional Black equestrian either, so that made this book extra special. And, while our childhood backgrounds are so different, as a "very causal" Black equestrian myself, I related a lot to Kareem's mentions of race and riding as a Black person in such a typically elite, white sport.
I'll be thinking about this book for a long while after. Recommended for everyone, both horse people and non-horse people alike!
I'll be thinking about this book for a long while after. Recommended for everyone, both horse people and non-horse people alike!
October 16, 2020
This book is an an instant classic - an underdog, a young poor black kid, who far surpasses anyone's expectations and succeeds as a top notch athlete in an elite sport. I loved it. You will root for each character, unfortunately much of the time you are rooting for them to just survive as much as you are rooting for them to win on the field. It is a sad story of reality - young death, drugs and missed opportunities combined with a feel good story created by an amazing woman who figured out horses and polo could change lives. I can't wait to see this as a movie one day. It will be great.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 5, 2021
I met Kareem at work (sup Venti medicine ball with real honey) and had no idea that this quiet, courteous dude who charmed all my coworkers and customers was a ball and stick rock star and a stellar writer. Just a really solid writer and a great person. I'm really glad I met this dude.
This book about polo and trauma, about racism and rising above is as full of joy and brotherhood and ambition as it is about loss and grief. The Philly voice is real in this jawn. Don't sleep on this because you think it's about an obscure sport. It's about more than that, and there are a hundred reasons you'll love it.
This book about polo and trauma, about racism and rising above is as full of joy and brotherhood and ambition as it is about loss and grief. The Philly voice is real in this jawn. Don't sleep on this because you think it's about an obscure sport. It's about more than that, and there are a hundred reasons you'll love it.
September 14, 2021
Read this book on a recommendation from my friend Spencer, and I *could not* put it down.
Crossing the Line is a memoir from Kareem Rosser about growing up in West Philadelphia and the role that the sport polo played in his life. It’s inspirational, emotional, and fascinating throughout— Rosser is easy to root for and his life experience is nothing short of exceptional. I can’t offer much by way of substantive comment besides effusive praise and the recommendation that everyone I know read his book. Phenomenal.
Crossing the Line is a memoir from Kareem Rosser about growing up in West Philadelphia and the role that the sport polo played in his life. It’s inspirational, emotional, and fascinating throughout— Rosser is easy to root for and his life experience is nothing short of exceptional. I can’t offer much by way of substantive comment besides effusive praise and the recommendation that everyone I know read his book. Phenomenal.
March 18, 2022
4.5 - While tragic at times due to the hard truth regarding inner city issues & their effects (poverty, violence, drugs, etc), this was such an eye-opening & inspiring story - I didn’t want the book to end! The horse fanatic & previous club polo player in me related to so much of the transformative power of horses & barn life, but Kareem does a fantastic job of explaining things for anyone to understand. What a courageous man & special team of people he had behind him.
June 8, 2022
Incredible story! It’s amazing what stumbling upon the barn and sticking to polo did for this man’s life. It served as an outlet to the challenges of living in the inner city, coupled with this man’s ability to rise above his circumstances (along with so many other added challenges). Reminded me of “A Most Beautiful Thing”- how rowing was an outlet from the inner city of Chicago for that author.
June 22, 2022
Not your average sports book....
How does one escape poverty, dangerous neighborhoods, parents with drug/alcohol problems, lack of edifying activities, poor educational opportunities, lack of scope? For those mired in this type of environment--whose fault is it? Whose responsibility is it?
The author, Kareem Rosser, who came from one of Philadelphia's worst neighborhoods, doesn't even have all the answers. But he does say after his journey to a college education and a job in finance--you gotta WANT it!!
Yes, Kareem had help, and so did many of his friends and family, beginning with the remarkable Lezlie Hiner, operator of the Work to Ride program close to Kareem's slum neighborhood., who saw the therapeutic possibilities between horses and kids. She teaches impoverished kids how to ride and take care of horses, as well as learn to play polo if they wish. And Kareem and his brothers and friends DID wish.
Was it a smooth upward trajectory for these boys? Hardly. Two older brothers, despite having outright giftedness with horse riding and given advanced learning opportunities out of town both become oppositional to instructors, felt called back to the streets, and ended up with jail terms.
The book was emotionally "open", which added to the authenticity of Kareem's narrative. He described his frequent bouts of depression, anxiety, PTSD, fear, grief, and panic attacks. Brothers and friends had deleterious anger management problems. Kareem reported that the only place these emotions fell away and kept him alive was at the barn with the horses.
As Kareem and his polo team made advances with skills and wins across the east coast, they also learned to face societal rules, learned discipline, and gained internal strength. And they were bolstered by the love and faith from their coach, Lezlie Hiner, a white woman.
I found this book to be both heartwarming, but realistic. This is a success story, but not a fairy tale.
Highly recommended!
How does one escape poverty, dangerous neighborhoods, parents with drug/alcohol problems, lack of edifying activities, poor educational opportunities, lack of scope? For those mired in this type of environment--whose fault is it? Whose responsibility is it?
The author, Kareem Rosser, who came from one of Philadelphia's worst neighborhoods, doesn't even have all the answers. But he does say after his journey to a college education and a job in finance--you gotta WANT it!!
Yes, Kareem had help, and so did many of his friends and family, beginning with the remarkable Lezlie Hiner, operator of the Work to Ride program close to Kareem's slum neighborhood., who saw the therapeutic possibilities between horses and kids. She teaches impoverished kids how to ride and take care of horses, as well as learn to play polo if they wish. And Kareem and his brothers and friends DID wish.
Was it a smooth upward trajectory for these boys? Hardly. Two older brothers, despite having outright giftedness with horse riding and given advanced learning opportunities out of town both become oppositional to instructors, felt called back to the streets, and ended up with jail terms.
The book was emotionally "open", which added to the authenticity of Kareem's narrative. He described his frequent bouts of depression, anxiety, PTSD, fear, grief, and panic attacks. Brothers and friends had deleterious anger management problems. Kareem reported that the only place these emotions fell away and kept him alive was at the barn with the horses.
As Kareem and his polo team made advances with skills and wins across the east coast, they also learned to face societal rules, learned discipline, and gained internal strength. And they were bolstered by the love and faith from their coach, Lezlie Hiner, a white woman.
I found this book to be both heartwarming, but realistic. This is a success story, but not a fairy tale.
Highly recommended!
June 20, 2024
This is a must read—don’t miss it! And, thank you Skketch for bringing this incredible book to my attention.
April 12, 2021
Read this in about 2 hours. As a life long horse person and former college polo player, I loved the intertwined descriptions of the barn life, the power of healing that horses bring to the soul and also the weaving in of the rules of the game into the storyline. I had heard of Work to Ride many years ago and wow, what an incredible program. I appreciated the reality that not everyone is magically saved by opportunity when trying to escape such difficulties in surroundings, but also what an incredible person Kareem is for all that he has accomplished. I hope this book serves to bring more awareness to not only Work to Ride, but also the sport of polo and it's current lack of accessibility for many. Everyone should get a chance to experience the joy of horses and the sport at least once in their life time, no matter where they come from.
April 23, 2021
Love this memoir and all the layered lessons and reflections it offers. It is heartbreaking and hopeful all at once.
To Ram Fans - the author is a fellow CSU alum, and I feel proud to have a common connection with such an incredible person and his story.
To Ram Fans - the author is a fellow CSU alum, and I feel proud to have a common connection with such an incredible person and his story.
March 1, 2021
A compelling memoir that I couldn’t put down-read it in 24 hours. Both a beautiful and raw story, and a window into the transformative power of horses.
March 5, 2021
Inspirational and special. Kareem Rosser tells his story, and the story of his family in this special book.
April 20, 2021
Loved everything about this...how to dance with the choices one does have and the choices one doesn’t. This blends a good animal story and a coming of age tale. Communion & therapy.
May 7, 2021
This is one of the best books I've read, definitely a must read. Kareem and his brothers are an inspiration! I shed many tears, I know they will accomplish so much for so many in the years to come.
June 27, 2021
Loved this wonderful story of Kareem Rosser's life as a young, unlikely polo player. This book has so much heart and really moved me as a horse lover and a human being.
August 19, 2021
Heart-warming memoir of inner city kids who find redemption, and many other things, in the game of polo. I plan to attend a match in September.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 361 reviews