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.