Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Crossing the Line is the remarkable true story of Kareem Rosser, his family, and the community who helped him and his team change the face of polo forever.
Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Kareem thought he and his siblings would always be stuck in "The Bottom, the neighborhood where he grew up. Poverty and violence had a way of keeping people in his life down, friends and family alike--not even children seemed to be immune--until on a bike ride in Philly's Fairmount Park the Rosser brothers discovered a stable full of horses run by a woman named Lezlie Hiner. Lezlie made the brothers a deal: work afterschool at the stables and in exchange, she'd teach them to ride. It was a trade that would change their lives forever.
Readers will feel every triumph and heartbreaking moment along the way to Kareem becoming a National Champion. From discovering polo, to winning a scholarship to Valley Forge Military Academy, and the struggles of keeping his family together, this is a story of an extraordinary person overcoming impossible odds.
Crossing the Line is a look into an immensely exciting, but typically privileged, sport, from an outsider who fought to forge place for himself in its highest ranks. It's a story of family, loyalty, the bond between brothers, and the transformative connection between man and horse. It's a story of loss and hope, and how one moment can change a person's life forever.
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
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.