Ages 10+1-min guideHistoryAdventureFamily
Will’s Race for Home
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Good fitA good fit for most kids 10 and up. An exciting Western with real history. Expect racism, a shootout and one grim scene of the dead.
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What it’s about
Will, 12, and his father are sharecroppers in Texas. They race to the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush to claim land of their own. On the trail they team up with Caesar, a Black former Union soldier.
The ending
What might come up
ViolenceSomeFistfights, a rattlesnake and gunfights. A former Confederate soldier shoots Caesar. Near the Red River, Will sees the dead after a massacre.
RacismSomeEx-Confederates and some townspeople treat the family with hatred. Some towns make it clear they are not welcome.
Mild perilA littleA dangerous crossing of the Red River.
LanguageA littleInsults like 'fool,' plus racist remarks from an ex-Confederate.
RomanceA littleWill’s father kisses his mother on the cheek.
Why kids like it
Short, fast chapters, a loyal mule and a mysterious soldier on a black horse.
Free printable quiz
- 1In what year is the Oklahoma Land Rush?
- 2What is the name of the family’s mule?
- 3Who joins Will and his father on the trail?
- 4Where does Will’s family live at the start?