Crossing the Line // Kareem Rosser

Crossing the Line is another one of those books that had me bawling right as I needed to go into work. I'm really good at picking up non-fiction books that do that lately! I love animals and I love memoirs so I was thrilled to receive an ARC for a book that combined both so well. I loved seeing what kind of lasting impact the introduction of horses could have on someone's life and in how many ways it could influence them even in the areas of their life that you wouldn't expect right away. This story is so inspiring but also has some absolutely heartbreaking moments mixed in that made me feel like my heart was going to stop with grief. Rosser really knew how to tell his story effectively.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic! I adored this book. Kareem Rosser offer's a page turning tale, that is both heart breaking and empowering.

What a wonderful surprise this book was!

Crossing the Line is a coming-of-age memoir by Kareem Rosser that documents his experience growing up in a West Philadelphia neighborhood devastated by poverty and violence, joining the Work to Ride program the horse stables in Philly’s Fairmont Park, and becoming a member of the first all-Black national interscholastic polo championship team.

I was immediately drawn to this story because of its Philadelphia setting. Philly is a city that holds a special place in my heart… it is a city with a fierce identity and an unstoppable spirit, but it is also a city with a lot of complex challenges and dire inequality.

I appreciated seeing Philly through Rosser’s eyes and learning about his experience growing up there. I was also delighted to discover that there was a horse stable in Fairmont Park and a community program for kids who want to learn to ride!

As a self-proclaimed Olympics fanatic, I love a good obscure sports tale. I know absolutely nothing about polo, but that didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying Rosser’s story. Rosser’s writing comes alive when he talks about his horses and his polo matches… and his excitement and passion is infectious, and he does a fantastic job of breaking down the basics of polo without getting too technical or stalling the quick pace of his story.

I was also struck by how incredibly emotional this book was. Rosser speaks with so much candor and feeling about the trauma and grief that he has experienced in his life, and about his subsequent PTSD and anxiety. But Rosser’s story is also one of passion, determination, purpose, belonging, and triumph… and I am so grateful that he was willing to share it with the world.

CW/TW - murder, death of a child

4.5 stars- Wow! What an inspiring, heartfelt story! Sometimes I have trouble with memoirs because they can lag at times or be bogged down with details. Not this one! I had trouble tearing myself away from the pages. You don't have to be a sports fan or know anything about polo. You will become soley invested in Kareem and the challenges he and his brothers face on a daily basis. You will cheer him on as he discovers a way he can escape the horrors of his neighborhood and fuel a passion that will change his life forever. It's moving and powerful and will fill you with hope.

Crossing 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.

"Crossing the Line" by Kareem Rosser is the true story of how a young man from West Philadelphia became one of the leading (horse) polo players in the country. The story of how Rosser accidentally finds the horse barn to his graduation from military academy all highlight how a combination of fate and hard work helped him carve a path into a sport traditionally dominated by white men with high incomes. Rosser simultaneously finds healing and solace in his horses and provides support for his brothers and friends. This is a really good read, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

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.

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.