Will's Race for Home is one of my favorite MG historical fiction reads I've ever read. This was my first book by Jewell Parker Rhodes, but it certainly won't be my last. From the well researched setting to the character development to the fast-moving plot, this is one that I feel confident students will eat right up. From a teacher's perspective, there are also so many fantastic curricular opportunities here, and I appreciate having a book that explores Westward expansion from the perspective of Black homesteaders in a post-Civil War United States. I listened to this one on audio, and I highly recommend the format.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reader and listener copies.

Will's father has plans to journey from Texas to Oklahoma in 1889 in time for the Oklahoma Land Rush to claim some land for their family and family to come. Will and his father navigate rough terrain and rough people to see if they can make a better life for themselves and their family.

I loved this novel for so many reasons! For one, it gives a great represenation of how even 25 years after the Emanicipation Proclamation, Blacks were still seen as less than and had work extra hard to make their own way in the world. I also love that this novel takes place in Oklahoma, and the land run. I don't see many stories take place in Oklahoma, so it's nice to read. Additionally, the novel sets the stage to talk about the Tulsa Race Riots that took place just over 30 years later. This was an amazingly written novel, with a great story and lesson!

Learn about the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 through a gripping adventure.
A glimpse into what life was like after the Civil War.
Heartwarming Father-Son bonding through understanding.
Hopes and dreams sprinkled with determination and bravery.
Friends can be made in the most unusual circumstances.

WILL’S RACE FOR HOME by Jewell Parker Rhodes is a middle grade historical Black and African American fiction book about a ten year old boy and his father who joined the Oklahoma land rush twenty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation. I really enjoyed the book, and loved all the themes in the book that would keep kids engaged in the story while educating them in a gentle way. There is drama, excitement, friendship, adventure, and danger. Despite his young age, it is a coming of age story for Will who was irrevocably changed by the experience. Will and his father leave home strangers but they bond over the hardships of the journey and come out the other side bonded in a new way. There were lessons about what is most important such as the bonds of friendship and family and whether it is acceptable to hurt others to save oneself. On this issue, the reader is presented with opposing viewpoints and, like Will, will have to reach his/her own conclusion. It would be impossible to tell a story about an African American family in the years following the civil war that didn’t touch on the racism that was a constant in their lives. The author described the realities of their lives, and the options that had been available to them. There isn’t an easy way to discuss racism, but it was discussed in a manor that a middle grade child would be able to absorb - strong enough to be serious but not so strongly to traumatize the reader. The last important point is that the book ends happily, something which isn’t necessary at this age, but is always appreciated. I would recommend this for all readers age 8-12. It was well written and easy to read.

I would like to thank TBR Tours and Beyond and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC and a physical copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Will's Race for Home was so so good. Jewell writes a rip roaring Historical Western set in real part of American History and being a Brit it fascinated me.

This was my first ever Middle Grade Western and I had such a fantastic time as I fell in love with the characters and was willing them on to make their dreams come true. In fact I would not rule out reading anymore and that is due to Jewell.

For all the above reasons Will's Race For Home receives 5 stars.

An exciting and inspirational historical middle-grade adventure story.

Will’s Race for Home is a new historical middle-grade adventure story from author Jewell Parker Rhodes centered around the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. Twelve-year-old William Samuels and his father, George, set out for Oklahoma from their home in Texas, where they are sharecroppers on another man’s cotton farm, to participate in the upcoming land rush. At stake is a 160-acre piece of farmland they can call their own. Along the way, they face danger from many directions: rattlesnakes, a treacherous river crossing, and, worst of all, from their fellow man. However, Will also comes to know and understand his emotionally distant father, a man of few words and agonizing secrets buried in his past.

I absolutely fell in love with this book and its young protagonist from the first page. Will Samuels easily mirrors the thoughts and feelings of any boy, as does his yearning to gain his father’s approval and love. Not only does the journey allow him to connect with his reserved father, but it also opens his eyes to a world from which he’s been mostly sheltered his entire life, living in deeply rural southwest Texas. Young readers will identify with Will, his hopes and dreams, and his love for his family and the mule, Belle.

The author features the historic Oklahoma Land Rush, which occurred on April 22, 1889, and the descriptions of the Samuels’s journey, the time, and settings are vivid and evocative, putting the reader smack on the trail with Will, George, and their new friend and former Union soldier, Caesar. The story gives readers an idea of what it meant to be a sharecropper and the difficulty of ever getting ahead under the system.

Occurring a little over 20 years after the end of the Civil War, the story relates the tensions still in existence between those who supported opposite sides of the conflict: for many, the war was never over. Will’s mother, Anna, his father, George, and their friend, Caesar, put names and faces to the men and women who had been enslaved from birth, only gaining freedom after the start of the war, and illustrates realistically what that meant for them going forward.

This is not the first book I’ve read from this author, and her stories and writing continue to be an immersive experience, no matter the topic. Her writing style is warm and easy to read, and the chapter lengths are perfect for younger readers. With its exciting and suspenseful story and engaging, relatable characters, I recommend WILL’S RACE FOR HOME to middle-grade readers and for use as a read-aloud book in the classroom, in an afterschool program, or at home.

3.5 ⭐️

🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Intrigue: 6
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 7
Originality: 8
Wow Factor: 7

Will's Race for Home follows a young boy and his father as they fight to secure their claim during the Oklahoma Land Rush, leaving behind the inequities of sharecropping in Texas. This story beautifully explores the power of friendship, the challenges of growing up, and the realities faced by Black families in the post-Civil War 1800s. I especially appreciated how the author highlighted the questions that ran through Will's mind as he observed the adults around him, adding depth and authenticity to his perspective. The artwork throughout the book was also a standout feature, enhancing the narrative in meaningful ways. I’m excited to pass this on to my little brother—it’s a story worth sharing.


Thanks to TBR & Beyond Tours and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
🐴 middle grade
🐴 historical fiction
🐴 bipoc mmc
🐴 coming of age
🐴 Oklahoma Land Rush

Length: 208p
Source: ARC - TBR & Beyond, NetGalley, Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 14, 2025

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What an absolute delightful read bringing a fresh new look into the Oklahoma Land Rush of the late 1800s. I really wish we had more history from different cultures and povs so we could understand the impact of this time in history to EVERYONE.

I found Will to be a sturdy and strong willed young man. He had deep respect for his father and he was very mature for his age as they raced across new land in search of their freedom.

An adventure of a lifetime that included run in’s with bandits and a mysterious union soldier who brings unwanted attention their way.

I loved everything about this story. Even though it’s middle grade, it’s a wonderful way to view history from a new perspective.

{I received a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

Will's Race for Home is a great way to learn about this important piece of American history. It was such an engaging book and I learned so much. You will be cheering for Will the whole time!

Loved this book, done in a simple but relevant middle grade with scenes appropriated for the age it will also make older readers fall in love with this journey of bravery. A family will journey to reclaim land in the 1880s. Perfect for adults who loved the show 1883 this book makes the most relevant facts, and difficulties well explained to younger readers. The crossing of the river, the prejudice from those still fighting the war in their heads and hearts. I couldn't put it down. Also recommend it as an audiobook.

Will's family lives in Texas where his father is a sharecropper who can never get ahead. His parents dream of having their own place to grow, but as a Black family in 1889, have few options. When the Land Rush for Oklahoma is declared, and open to all takers, Will's father decides to make a dream reality, and he and Will set off for distant Oklahoma in an attempt to meet the deadline for the Rush. Will's father has always been emotionally distant from Will, a product of hard times and slavery, but the rigors and crises of the road draw them together and he starts to open up. There are hundreds and then thousands headed for the same objective, and not all willing to share the way, much less the prize, and when they befriend an imposing Black former Union soldier, Caesar, he both deflects and draws danger. When it looks like they won't make it in time, Will steps up and rides alone for their hopes and dreams.
A moving story of father and sons, growing up, taking responsibility, friendship and respect enlivened with adventure and excitement. A good presentation of the attitudes and physical landscape of the time. Excellent historical fiction, family fiction and psychological fiction for young people. And very enjoyable for adults as well. Highly recommended.

Will is a young Black boy living a sharecropper’s life in Texas, when one day his father comes home and wants to join the land rush in Oklahoma. They both want to fulfill the dream to own their own land, and reap all the benefits from it. Father and sone begin a grueling journey with their mule Belle, leaving Mom and Grandpa at home. Tightly woven and heartfelt, I loved this book and would definitely read it again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this DRC.
#WillsRaceforHome #NetGalley

A really good addition to our historical perspectives of a time period, this novel does an excellent job of examining the impacts of slavery, including emotional, economic and social on three generations of a family. Using Will's perspective allows the author to present the issues in a simple enough way for child readers to understand, but the author also includes enough characters to show multiple experiences and perspectives. Some of the issues faced by Will, including the strained relationship with his father seemed to be solved too quickly for me, but it kept the story moving. While the perspective of the indigenous people who's land is being stolen isn't addressed in the narrative, the author does address this in the back matter.

A great adventure story about a son and his father who set out to win land during the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. The journey isn't easy, the terrain is rough and they have encounters with bandits. But a mysterious Union soldier may be just what they need. The promise of freedom, land ownership and a place to call home is what propels them. But is a strong will enough to get them there?

This quick read would make an awesome mentor text for teaching about character change and the land rush. It kept me on the edge of my seat in several scenes and painted a realistic picture of what people endured to claim land out west.

In 1888, Will lives with his mother, father, and grandfather in Texas. The father and grandfather left Louisiana after enslaved people were set free when the father was about nine, and walked the entire way to Texas. There, the family work as sharecroppers, putting in long hours planting, tending, and harvesting cotton only to have 70% of their profits end up in the pocket of the landowner, Mr. Thompson. When the father is handed a flyer about the Oklahoma Land Rush, he brings it home for his wife to read. She has secretly been teaching Will to read as well, and the family is very excited to be able to claim land. Since it is another arduous journey, the mother and grandfather stay behind, and Will and his father take their mule, Belle, and head off. They need to travel over eight hours a day for 40 days to make it in time for the April filing date. There are challenges on the trail, like snakes, meager rations, but the real threats come from other people that they meet in town before crossing the Red River. Left alone with the wagon, Will is attacked by men who try to steal the family's money and supplies. Luckily, Caesar, an older Black Civil War veteran, calmly threatens the men with shooting them, and they back off. Of course, the sheriff throws the three out of town because he doesn't want Black people causing trouble, even though they were not at fault. Caesar is shot by one of the bystanders, a Confederate veteran, but Will has followed him and manages to get him back to his father, who removes the bullet and saves Caesar's life. It takes several days to get Caesar will enough to attempt to cross the river. After a treacherous crossing that imperils Belle, the group realizes that they can't make it to Oklahoma in time as a group. The decision is made to let Will take Caesar's horse, Midnight, and ride to Oklahoma by himself to file a claim. He manages to make it just in time, and dutifully stakes out the family's land. Unfortunately, a group of men arrive and state that they have already filed for Will's portion, showing him a bill of sale for other goods as proof, assuming he can't read. Unwilling to let the land go, Will brandishes the pistol Caesar insisted he take, and channels Caesar's calm but masterful demeanor, telling the men in no uncertain terms that he would rather kill them than give up the land. They are impressed, and leave him alone. Eventually, Belle and the two men find Will's claim. They work to plant wheat, corn, and alfalfa, and to improve the property, knowing that in five years, the land will be theirs. The grandfather and mother arrive by stagecoach, and Caesar decides it is time to continue his journey to the west coast.
Strengths: The end of the book has a note that acknowledges that all settlers were participating in the oppression of indigenous people, and mention the Indian Removal Act of the 1830s. This is important, because the adventure sagas written in the first half of the twentieth century, while great reads, complete pass over this crucial information. Going to Oklahoma was a way for Will's family to escape the tyranny of sharecropping, and to improve their lot; I wonder how much information people would have had at the time about the role or fate of indigenous people. Will's journey was a fantastic adventure, and while there are a few books about Black settlers, there are not many. The father and Caesar were great characters, even if their role was relegated to supporting Will. This is a great snapshot of an interesting period of time that set the stage for other historical events like the development of the Greenwood District in Tulsa. The cover will have young readers scrambling to get their hands on this one.
Weaknesses: I would have loved to see more information about so many topics, but I understand that to keep the story fast paced, some details had to be sacrificed. The Civil War experience of Caesar deserves its own book!
What I really think: I'm struggling to come up with other books about settlers in the 1800s that can still be read; Philbrick's Stay Alive would be one, as would Gemeinhart's Come Kind of Courage. Meyer's A Sky Full of Song and Park's Prairie Lotus cover homesteading, but I'd love to see an updated novel about the Pony Express or other Westward Expansion experiences that try to include information about indigenous people. I would also love for Rhodes to write a book about Greenwood, but not about the massacre. Learning about the thriving community before that tragic event would be fascinating.