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A review by kelly_e
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Title: This Tender Land
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."
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."
Content Warnings
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