This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! “If you liked Where the Crawdads Sing, you’ll love This Tender Land...This story is as big-hearted as they come.” —Parade The unforgettable story of four orphans who travel the Mississippi River on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression. In the summer of 1932, on the banks of Minnesota’s Gilead River, Odie O’Banion is an orphan confined to the Lincoln Indian Training School, a pitiless place where his lively nature earns him the superintendent’s wrath. Forced to flee after committing a terrible crime, he and his brother, Albert, their best friend, Mose, and a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi and a place to call their own. Over the course of one summer, these four orphans journey into the unknown and cross paths with others who are adrift, from struggling farmers and traveling faith healers to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds. With the feel of a modern classic, This Tender Land is an enthralling, big-hearted epic that shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams, and makes us whole.

There's a lot of heart and character here. The POV's grapple with God was striking. Pardon the pun. Definitely worth a read.

This is not a book that I would have picked up on my own, so an abundance of thanks to my sister for an amazing birthday present. The pace and details of this story were perfectly set to keep you interested but not weighed down. All of the characters were diverse and dynamic, allowing you to empathize with them on a grand scale. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone- it will be a favorite on my shelf forever.

This was an enchanting story and I liked it a lot. There were a few places where the story went on a political tangent and it was enriching, but some instances caused me to become so extremely outraged at the cruelty and inhumanity that I had to take a break from reading for the rest of the day, I even skipped a day twice, because I was really upset. I will not forget this book. This was the first book I read from this author and I'm an instant follower and fan now. I can't wait to read more of his work.

William Kent Krueger has a great talent when it comes to writing a coming of age story. Ordinary Grace is one of my favorite books, so I was excited to read another story about a young boy facing adversity that shapes him into the individual he will be. Krueger's depiction of America during the early 1930s is vivid and informative. I was completely immersed in Odie's world and the adventure he is forced to take to find a life in which he and his friends could be free and find a home.

This book tells the story of Odie, his older brother Alfred, his best friend Mose, and a little girl named Emmy. They are orphans who bond together to escape tragedy and abuse at the hands of those who run the Lincoln Indian Training School. The story follows them as they flee their pursuers in search of family and safety. Many unfortunate events occur along the way that challenge their faith in people and each other.

The plight of these children is heartbreaking to read, but their persistence is inspiring. Despite all the obstacles in their path, they push onward and do what they can to protect each other. Krueger's character development is top notch. I felt for these characters as if they were real. Each of them inspired compassion for different reasons.

Krueger takes great care to create a vivid setting in all of his novels. He describes the landscapes in detail without it becoming tedious. The river in this story becomes as important to the story as the characters. It is their lifeline, their escape route, their adventure.

I cannot recommend Krueger's books enough. Any reader who appreciates a descriptive, immersive setting and rich, complex characters will enjoy this book.