An instant New York Times bestseller
Coretta Scott King Book Award winner

Will’s Race for Home

7

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?

Also available as an audiobook

The Will's Race for Home book cover, which features the title of the book and a young African American boy riding on a horse fast through a field with a glowing orange and yellow sunset behind him. This version of the book cover shows an emblem for the Coretta Scott King Award.
a cut out that looks like a sticker, of a black and brown horse's head

Honors & Accolades
for Will’s Race for Home

CCBC Choice Book

Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award Nomination

South Carolina Book Award Nomination

Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nomination

Nebraska Golden Sower Award Nomination

Best Book of 2025

Best Book of 2025

Best Book of 2025

Best Book of 2025

A Best Kids & Family Audiobook

2025, Spotify

Best Book of 2025

Buckeye Children’s Book Award Nominee

Tome Society Book Award

Best Book Pick

Library Selection

Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review

“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.”

Booklist, Starred Review
“…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“.
Kirkus, Starred Review

The short chapters make this fast-paced and eventful ride through the West an accessible and engaging read. Although Will’s internal and external conflicts are central to the story, Rhodes’ well-developed peripheral characters have incredible depth, adding complexity to the straightforward adventure… An exciting gallop through real history with little-known heroes taking the lead.”

School Library Journal, Starred Review

“Written in hauntingly engaging prose, this brutal and heartrending ­depiction of a vital coming-of-age story is sure to grip readers… Rhodes deftly captures a unique ­aspect of this historical event, with a perspective that is ­often under-represented in historical ­fiction. VERDICT: A poignant and honest look at the trials of racism that defined the ­historic land rush; a must-buy for all libraries.

Children's Bulletin

This adventure is one heart-pounding moment after another, from fights with villainous men to snake attacks, but the book also deliberately considers how racism continued post-emancipation and the effects of intergenerational trauma. Both Will’s constant internal wondering—about his father’s past, his parents’ love for each other, racism in the post-Civil War west—and his blossoming relationships with Caesar and his father create a compellingly thoughtful narrator.”

The Horn Book

“Rhodes’s storytelling is at its strongest during times of high drama… An engaging tale that sheds light on the efforts of community helpers.”