This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger ~ Book Review 2025

In 1932, Odie and his brother are orphans that have been sent to live at the Lincoln Indian Training School, a residential school, even though they are not of First Nations descent.  Odie hates it there and he frequently is at the receiving end of the superintendent's wrath.  For silly "crimes" and rebellion he is often locked in a shed where his only friend is the rat sharing the space.  When something tragic happens when Odie is trying to escape punishment yet again, he and his brother Albert, along with Odie's best friend Mose, break free along with a little girl whom the superintendent wants to adopt. Heading to St. Louis, where they think they have an aunt who will take them in, the four runaways go from Minnesota's Gilead River to the Mississippi in a stolen canoe in the hopes it will be harder for them to be tracked if they are on the water.  On their journey they run into a variety of folks from desperate farmers to faith healing evangelists who either help them or hinder them.  Who to trust becomes a challenge they must overcome even as they learn to trust themselves and their friendship is tested to the limit.  

This book came highly recommended to me.  Set during the Great Depression, the story is told through the eyes of 12 year old Odie, who along with his older brother, find themselves sent to a residential school after their mother and father have both died because there is no where else to place them.  Odie's life is not easy at the school and there are many portions that were hard to read due what he and other children endured at the hands of the school administrators.  Once they leave the school, their lives are up and down as they struggle to survive during their journey.  There are many heartwarming moments of friendship and coming of age and also many ones of suffering as they learn some hard lessons along the way to find their aunt.  There are many deep things and issues of the time woven into the story that makes the reader think. Odie struggles throughout the story believing in a God who would let these bad things happen and this plays into the story throughout different parts.  Character development was excellent and I came to care for and really hope for all the main characters.  The story is very atmospheric and the author's description of the areas takes you right there.  It is a longer book at 444 pages and though I did like the story, I did find myself starting to skim in parts and wishing it would wrap up.   So while I'm not loving it as much as others seemed to love it, it is a good book that drew me  into the lives of the four young friends trying to find healing for hearts and a place to belong.  

I rated it a 7.5/10