Books This Tender Land: by William Kent Krueger (Author)

"This Tender Land" by William Kent Krueger is a historical novel set in 1932 during the Great Depression. The story follows 12-year-old Odysseus "Odie" O'Bannion, his older brother Albert, and their two friends—a mute Sioux boy named Mose and Emmy, the orphaned daughter of their late teacher. They escape from the oppressive Lincoln Indian Training School in Minnesota after Odie accidentally kills a cruel school official. The group sets out on a journey downriver in a stolen canoe with the goal of reaching St. Louis to stay with their Aunt Julia.

As they travel down the Gilead, Minnesota, and Mississippi Rivers, the children face numerous hardships and adventures, including encounters with a violent one-eyed man named Jack, a snake-handling religious revival group, and the challenges of the Dust Bowl era. The novel explores themes of family, resilience, faith, and the search for freedom. The characters develop deep bonds, with Odie becoming a storyteller and harmonica player whose music lifts their spirits. The story culminates in revelations about family secrets and the children's futures, with an epilogue reflecting on their later lives.