Will's Race for Home

By Jewell Parker Rhodes

A father and son race for land and freedom in a perilous journey during the Oklahoma Land Rush.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,530 ratings

208 pages· 25,989 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

$17.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1889, Will and his father embark on a treacherous journey from Texas to Oklahoma, driven by the promise of land and freedom. Amidst brutal terrain and dangerous bandits, they encounter Caesar, a mysterious soldier whose presence brings unexpected challenges. As they race against thousands in the Oklahoma Land Rush, the stakes are high: land ownership and a place to call home. Can their determination overcome the perils that lie ahead?

From the publisher

A New York Times bestseller! ★ “Rhodes deftly captures a unique aspect of this historical event, with a perspective that is often under-represented in historical fiction. A poignant and honest look at the trials of racism that defined the historic land rush; a must-buy.” -School Library Journal, starred review Bestselling and award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes goes West in this thrilling adventure story about a son and his father who set out to win land during the Oklahoma Land Rush-if they can survive the journey. It’s 1889, barely twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a young Black family is tired of working on land they don’t get to own. So when Will and his father hear about an upcoming land rush, they set out on a journey from Texas to Oklahoma, racing thousands of others to the place where land is free–if they can get to it fast enough. But the journey isn’t easy–the terrain is rough, the bandits are brutal, and every interaction carries a heavy undercurrent of danger. And then there’s the stranger they encounter and befriend: a mysterious soldier named Caesar, whose Union emblem brings more attention–and more trouble–than any of them need. All three are propelled by the promise of something long denied to them: freedom, land ownership, and a place to call home–but is a strong will enough to get them there?