They are orphaned white boys who have been taken in by The Lincoln Indian Trading School, a school for Native American children who have been separated from their parents. This Tender Land reminiscent of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer’s adventures, centers on brothers Odie and Albert. William Kent Kruger, author of Ordinary Grace, has come out with an epic about a family of sorts, during the 1930s on the riverbank in Minnesota. In the end, isn’t that what every good story is about?” There will be courage in this story and cowardice. Of killing and kidnapping and children pursued by demons of a thousand names. ”The tale I’m going to tell is of a summer long ago. William Kent Krueger has a sentimental and descriptive voice he can really tell a great story! Review by Alysa S.I loved this all engrossing, fast paced, beautifully written adventure. Though This Tender Land seems occasionally juvenile in its storytelling (understandable from the young protagonist’s POV), for anyone who wants to experience an epic, cross-country adventure while learning a bit of 1930's history through the eyes of a teenage vagabond stepping into the role of a young adult, this coming-of-age tale proves to be a satisfactory read. I think what made this book such a feel-good read was Odie's relatability as a protagonist: he's clearly unsure of himself and shoulders immense responsibilities at a young age, but his resilience and inherently caring nature cause me to gravitate towards his character and admire both his strengths and weaknesses.

Although Odie is the main focus of the book, I enjoyed the visibly significant growth of each of the four characters.

This Tender Land begins in the rural countryside of Minnesota, and I especially appreciate the author's accurate historical representation of the Great Depression Era and its socioeconomic effects on the various demographics that we encounter throughout the journey. I loved the protagonist Odie's character development from the moment he undertook a journey of escape towards a better future to the day he returned home, and I also greatly enjoyed the incredibly strong theme of friendship present between the four main characters on the journey. This book made me smile and frown and laugh at all the right times.

This tender land goodreads