  | Will's race for home : a western Author: Rhodes, Jewell Parker | |
| Price: $23.08 | ||
Summary:
During the land rush of 1889, African American Will and his father journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to stake their claim.
| Illustrator: | Ivanov, O |
| Ivanov, A |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 3.60 Points: 4.0 Quiz: 552766 |
Awards:
Coretta Scott King Author Award, 2026
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (12/15/24)
School Library Journal (+) (00/11/24)
Booklist (+) (01/01/25)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/01/25)
The Hornbook (00/03/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 10/21/2024 Black 12-year-old Will sets out with his mule Belle and his sharecropper father to claim land in this riveting historical saga by Rhodes (Treasure Island), set during the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush. Desperate to escape his boring life and experience his own adventure ("I want to do something. Leave our tiresome home"), Will is determined to prove himself during the trip despite Father’s claims that he’s "not tough." But the journey proves difficult as the two contend with rattlesnakes, racism, and thieves. After they encounter a former Union soldier named Caesar and his horse, Midnight, Will and Father’s relationship begins to evolve as Will learns more about the cost of freedom for Black people. Short, quickly paced chapters depict Will’s fight for survival and his noble, ever-present desire to provide a better future for his family. Ripe with historical facts and moments of high tension, this adventurous story reflects on the aftereffects of violence on soldiers and what life looked like for Black citizens following the conclusion of the Civil War. It’s an empowering read that never loses sight of Will’s profound exploration of adolescence. Ages 8-12. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Jan.) - Copyright 2024
Booklist - 01/01/2025 *Starred Review* Twelve-year-old Will is the son of freed slaves living as sharecroppers in Texas. When Will’s father finds a notice about a land rush in Oklahoma, Will and his father set out to find a home of their own. Rhodes tells the tale of the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush through the eyes of Black Americans. Will’s father experienced the journey to Texas from a Louisiana plantation and now journeys with his son to create a homestead of their own. Will must brave racism in towns, the Red River crossing, and thieves as he travels the arduous route to Oklahoma. Once he arrives, further adventure and danger await as he experiences the land rush and stakes his claim. Will comes of age as he sees both the good and bad in people in the post–Civil War West. A former Union officer named Caesar, who joins them on their trek, provides further insight into the difficulties facing Black Americans during Reconstruction. Illustrations appear throughout, and an afterword offers more information about the time period as experienced by marginalized groups. Adventure, history, and heart make this often overlooked perspective in western life a must-read in all library collections. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
