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aksmith92's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The novel is rich in themes of resilience, friendship, and the search for identity amidst the backdrop of a troubled America. Krueger masterfully captures the era's social injustices, particularly the harsh realities faced by orphans and Native American children. As the children encounter kindness and cruelty along their journey, they learn profound lessons about trust, love, and the human spirit.
The story is not just about the physical journey but also explores moral choices, the complexities of faith, and the enduring power of hope. Through Odie's narration, readers are immersed in a poignant tale that skillfully balances adventure with deep emotional and spiritual growth, even for a barely thirteen-year-old!
What I Loved: This story was compelling. It was filled with vivid characters and an evocative portrayal of the American Midwest during one of its most challenging periods. All the characters were original and unique and provided interesting perspectives in the novel, even if you didn't necessarily like them. Anyone reading this story would likely be hesitant to put it down. Kent Krueger is a storyteller, and for that, I am so grateful. I loved exploring faith, love, and hope and how each person battles with that exploration and journey. I loved the tie to family and what family means. I also loved the characters and felt attached to them as they worked their way down the Gilead River to a better future. It was a complex and complicated read - this is slightly historical in the early 1930s - times were insensitive, and this novel had some challenging topics. But I was immersed and loved it.
Why Not 5 Stars? I was close to rating this five stars, but unfortunately, it just fell slightly through the cracks at the end. While I absolutely adored this novel, the ending felt rushed. Kent Krueger was trying to tie everything into a neat bow, and while I do think he did that successfully, it was all somewhat thrown at you in the end.
I must say, though, that I did like the official ending. There was a bit of a plot twist I didn't see coming. So, even if it was slightly rushed and thrown together, I did enjoy it nonetheless.
Overall, This Tender Land will stay with me for a while. It's a beautiful story with even a dose of magic (maybe!). I would highly recommend it.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Cultural appropriation, and Classism
themdash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Author: William Kent Krueger
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: September 3, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Atmospheric • Tender • Layered
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I have heard nothing but glowing things about William Kent Krueger's books, so it's surprising to me This Tender Land was my first venture. Basically all I knew was that it had Huckleberry Finn vibes and involved a river odyssey, and I was quite fine with knowing so little going in. What I got was an absolute treat!
Kent Krueger sure knows how to write! Set during the great depression and following the epic journey of four orphans, it is so beautifully written I could picture absolutely everything - the kids, the River, the sweeping landscape, the desperation. The pace is on the slower side, yet I think it works in order to get to know each of the characters intimately and to develop so many stories within one.
This coming-of-age story covers a lot of ground with major themes of self-discovery, the search for home and belonging, and the idea of possibility. Despite so many obstacles, the quarto persists. I was along for their journey. Another thing this novel does incredibly well is showcase the dark side of American history. Oftentimes, these aspects of the past are swept under the rug on purpose, but they need to be known.
Overall, this is an evocative and tender tale with so much depth and memorable characters full of hurt, potential and resiliency. One that will stick with me for quite some time. This Tender Land was my first read by William Kent Krueger, yet it definitely won't be my last.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like epic journeys
• historical fiction lovers
• fans of Huckleberry Finn
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Of all that we're asked to give others in this life, the most difficult to offer may be forgiveness."
"Everything that’s been done to us we carry forever. Most of us do our damnedest to hold on to the good and forget the rest. But somewhere in the vault of our hearts, in a place our brains can’t or won’t touch, the worst is stored, and the only sure key to it is in our dreams."
"We breathe love in and we breathe love out. It's the essence of our existence, the very air of our souls."
"Love comes in so many forms, and pain is no different."
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
sareidle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Murder, and Cultural appropriation
gena10's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Genocide, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Classism
rachelmerrie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Abandonment, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Trafficking
kcarney86's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Death, Racism, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Police brutality, and War
emorine13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Torture, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
sjanke2's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
professorbadger's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Grief and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual violence, and Forced institutionalization