Will's Race for Home

In the Oklahoma Land Rush, a father and son set out to win a plot of land that they can call their own.

In 1889, a Black family in Texas works night and day on land they don’t own for money they barely get to keep. Tired of toiling for others’ benefit, WIll and his father take notice of the upcoming Oklahoma Land Rush. All they need to do is get from Texas to Oklahoma by April. Easy, right? Just ride over rough terrain, battle against bandits, brave the elements, and of course, face the everpresent danger of white men who think that Will and his father don’t deserve their land because of their skin color. 
This is an adventure/Western story for middle grade readers that tells a familiar story from a new perspective. Will’s journey from boyhood to being a young man (even though the timespan of the book isn’t that long) is moving, as we face the dangers of the journey with him. It’s a short book that might be good for reluctant readers, as it is fast-paced and exciting.