Description

★ 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?