Starred review from October 21, 2024
Black 12-year-old Will sets out with his mule Belle and his sharecropper father to claim land in this riveting historical saga by Rhodes (Treasure Island), set during the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush. Desperate to escape his boring life and experience his own adventure (“I want to do something. Leave our tiresome home”), Will is determined to prove himself during the trip despite Father’s claims that he’s “not tough.” But the journey proves difficult as the two contend with rattlesnakes, racism, and thieves. After they encounter a former Union soldier named Caesar and his horse, Midnight, Will and Father’s relationship begins to evolve as Will learns more
about the cost of freedom for Black people. Short, quickly paced chapters depict Will’s fight for survival and his noble, ever-present desire to provide a better future for his family. 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. Ages 8–12. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.
Starred review from November 1, 2024
Gr 6 Up-Will Samuels has always dreamed of adventure; but when he and his father set off to claim land in the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush, he discovers that adventure in the Wild West may be more treacherous than he thought. Will, a young Black sharecropper in Texas, has thirsted for a chance to prove himself in the great American landscape. When his father comes home with a flier advertising the Oklahoma Land Rush, he jumps at the chance to join him. For Black folk in the American West, the journey is a tough one with enemies at every turn. As they unite with a former Union soldier, Caesar, who is also Black, Will matures under the hardships and triumphs of the American dream as a Black family. Written in hauntingly engaging prose, this brutal and heartrending depiction of a vital coming-of-age story is sure to grip readers. Short chapters and succinct language will draw in younger tweens, while the hard-hitting (and often forgotten) story of Black individuals carving out their place in the Oklahoma Land Rush will appeal to older ones. 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.-Ashton Conley
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from December 15, 2024
Twelve-year-old William Samuels sets out on the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush with his father and their faithful mule, Belle. One evening in 1888, Will's father, who was formerly enslaved, comes home late with news that changes the family's lives forever. He's carrying a flyer announcing a land rush more than 400 miles away from where they live as sharecroppers in Texas. This opportunity means they could build property on land that belongs only to them, land that Will could inherit just like the sons of the white men they work for. It also means adventure. They make plans for Will and Father to set off on the trek together, but nothing can truly prepare Will for what's to come, from the grueling wilderness terrain to the dangerous people and deadly snakes they encounter. Father and son also meet a mysterious ex-Union soldier named Caesar, who helps when they're in dire straits and joins them on their journey. When major responsibility for the success of their venture falls on Will's shoulders, he pushes through, despite facing threats until the very end. 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. Final art not seen. An exciting gallop through real history with little-known heroes taking the lead. (author's note)(Historical fiction. 8-12)
COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from January 1, 2025
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* Twelve-year-old Will is the son of freed slaves living as sharecroppers in Texas. When Will's father finds a notice about a land rush in Oklahoma, Will and his father set out to find a home of their own. Rhodes tells the tale of the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush through the eyes of Black Americans. Will's father experienced the journey to Texas from a Louisiana plantation and now journeys with his son to create a homestead of their own. 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.
COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
March 1, 2025
In this coming-of-age Western, twelve-year-old Will Samuels and his father, a stoic, formerly enslaved man, leave their sharecropper home in Texas for the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. Along the way, they encounter Caesar, a Black former Union officer who makes the journey with them. The group encounters perils such as wild animals, gunslingers, and, most dangerous of all, former Confederate soldiers who are still fighting the war. Will and Father grow closer during the brutal trek. Eventually, circumstances force Will to show leadership and bravery to help his family lay claim to land. Rhodes's storytelling is at its strongest during times of high drama, such as when Caesar is shot and when the trio traverses the treacherous Red River. The writing isn't quite as successful during quieter moments, and the use of relatively modern terms such as "Black" and "enslaved" is a bit jarring in a historical novel. Still, readers who love adventure will find much to enjoy here, and the book would pair well with Cline-Ransome's One Big Open Sky (rev. 3/24). An afterword addresses how the land rush was made possible by the subjugation of Indigenous people and links this fictional story with the Tulsa Race Massacre that saw racist whites kill successful Black residents, many of whose families participated in the 1889 land rush. Marva Anne Hinton
(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
