Will’s Race for Home (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner)

★ Winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Award! ★
★ 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?

Includes stunning black-and-white illustrations throughout!

Author: Jewell Parker Rhodes
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Published: 05/12/2026
Pages: 208
Size: 7.63h x 5.25w x 0.13d
ISBN: 9780316299435
Language: English