Crossing the Line, Kareem Rosser
Crossing the Line, Kareem Rosser
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

Crossing the Line
A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives Forever

Author: Kareem Rosser

Narrator: Landon Woodson

Unabridged: 6 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/09/2021


Synopsis

"Narrator Landon Woodson delivers the story perfectly, bringing out its range of emotions...Woodson offers the right inflections at the right times for the author's words--the emotional swings range from grief at the loss of a loved one to the pride Rosser feels in his accomplishments on the field." -- AudioFile Magazine

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

"A marvelous addition to the literature of inspirational sports stories." - Booklist (Starred Review)

"This remarkable and inspiring story shines." - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

About Kareem Rosser

Kareem Rosser is from Philadelphia, PA. He received a BA in economics from Colorado State University (CSU). While at CSU, he led his collegiate polo team to a national polo championship. At the same time, he was honored as the Intercollegiate polo player of the year. After graduation, Kareem began working as a financial analyst at an asset management firm. Also, he serves as the Executive Director of a non-profit fundraising arm called Friends of Work to Ride.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Chelsea on June 07, 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......more

Goodreads review by SundayAtDusk on February 09, 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......more

Goodreads review by Courtney on 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.......more

Goodreads review by Regina on November 17, 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 e......more

Goodreads review by Samuel on March 30, 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.......more


Awards

  • ALA Alex Awards Winner (Adult for Young Adults)