Will’s Race for Home

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Book Club Guide

1. Will opens the book with the words, “My father is a far-thinking man” (p. 1). By the end, he describes himself using those same words but “with different dreams” (p. 190). What do you think Will means by “far-thinking”? How are Will’s dreams different than those of Father? How are Father’s different than Grandpa’s? What does one generation pass on to the next?
2. Will and his family face a number of scary situations on their race to Oklahoma. What does it mean to be afraid? What does it mean to be brave? What does it mean to survive?
3. Will notes that “reading is something I can do that Father and Grandpa can’t” (p. 31). How does Will’s ability to read help him? Why do words, language, and stories matter?
4. Caesar and Father are both role models for Will. How are they different? What does Will learn from each of them?
5. Caesar tells Will that “a war won doesn’t necessarily change people’s minds, hearts. Hate doesn’t disappear” (p. 73). What do you think Caesar means by this? How can you change minds and hearts?
6. Father keeps secrets from Will. Are secrets always a bad thing? Can you ever know everything about another person?
7. Will maintains a close relationship with both Belle and Midnight. How do animals and nature help and hinder Will? Why is it important to respect nature?
8. On his journey, Will encounters conflict and violence in different forms. Do you think violence can solve problems? How do characters’ choices create or diffuse conflict?
9. After his adventures, Will insists that “the boy in me is done” (p. 169). Why does he think that? Is he right? What do you think makes the difference between a child and an adult?
10. In the Afterword, Jewell Parker Rhodes asks “Is land to be enjoyed and cared for by all? Should it be owned? By the few? the many? Is land a prerequisite for power and wealth? Or a necessary refuge for a family, a community? A home?” (p. 194-5). How do Will and the members of his family think about land, home, and freedom? What do you think?

Jewell Parker Rhodes

About the Author

Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for youth, including Ghost Boys; Black Brother, Black Brother; Paradise on Fire; and Treasure Island: Runaway Gold. She is the recipient of many distinguished awards and honors, including the Coretta Scott King Author Honor, the Green Earth Book Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, and the Octavia E. Butler Award. Rhodes is the Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing and Virginia G. Piper Endowed Chair at Arizona State University. She invites you to connect with her at jewellparkerrhodes.com.

Setor Fiadzigbey was born and raised in Accra, Ghana. As a child, he had an active imagination— often playing out stories visually in his mind. He is blessed to do this even more as an adult, helping to craft memorable stories as an artist and illustrator. He has had the privilege of working on some notable titles such as Marvel’s Black Panther Legends comic series, and the New York Times bestselling children’s book Bunheads by Misty Copeland. He has also done work in visual development for animation. He lives in Ghana with his family.

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