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This Tender Land cover art

This Tender Land

By: William Kent Krueger
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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Summary

The acclaimed author of Ordinary Grace crafts a powerful novel about an orphan's life-changing adventure traveling down America's great rivers during the Great Depression, seeking both a place to call home and a sense of purpose in a world sinking into despair. 

"Ask me, God's right here. In the dirt, the rain, the sky, the trees, the apples, the stars in the cottonwoods. In you and me, too. It's all connected, and it's all God. Sure this is hard work, but it's good work because it's a part of what connects us to this land. This beautiful, tender land." 

1932: Located on the banks of the Gilead River in Minnesota, Lincoln School is home to hundreds of Native American boys and girls who have been separated from their families. The only two white boys in the school are orphan brothers Odie and Albert, who, under the watchful eyes of the cruel superintendent Mrs. Brickman, are often in trouble for misdeeds both real and imagined. The two boys' best friend is Mose, a mute Native American who is also the strongest kid in school. And they find another ally in Cora Frost, a widowed teacher who is raising her little girl, Emmy, by herself. 

When tragedy strikes down Mrs. Frost, it's the catalyst for a series of events that will send Odie, Albert, and Mose to rescue Emmy and flee down the river in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi, leaving a dead body in their wake. Soon, they are wanted by the law, and they know that Mrs. Brickman will stop at nothing to track them down for dark reasons of her own. Over the course of this unforgettable summer, Odie, Albert, Mose, and Emmy carefully make their way through the small river towns and big cities filled with people who are by turns desperate and generous, cruel and kind. As they search for a place to belong, these four remarkable children will lose their innocence but gain the strength to survive in the face of terrible loss. 

With his signature "pitch-perfect, wonderfully evocative" (Dennis Lehane, New York Times best-selling author) prose, William Kent Krueger's This Tender Land shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams, and makes us whole.

©2019 William Kent Krueger (P)2019 Recorded Books

What listeners say about This Tender Land

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Wow!!

One of The Best books I’ve listened to on Audible - fantastic narration and what a tale! So atmospheric! Chose for my Book Club and we all loved it. It provided lots for discussion and it will be passed around to family and friends. Highly recommended - fascinating facts, wonderful characters and some unexpected twists and turns. Thank you Mr Krueger!

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Beautiful and engaging

I loved this book and the narrating of it. The narrator had a wonderful voice that truly captured the feeling of place and time. I don’t remember how I came across William Kent Krueger but I am thankful I did. He is up along side my favourite authors. He never disappoints.

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Excellent story, well told

What a wonderful story. I loved the characters, they came to life on the page and I just had to follow what happened to them. They writing is lyrical and very compelling, as is the storyline.
It is beautifully narrated too.

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Stunning!

This book was just what I needed. Heartwarming, yet heart wrenching. Beautifully written and beautifully performed. Bravo!

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Great tale

Loved this book.
Great tale, intertwined lives.
I cried a few tears for them all and laughed and loved with them.

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Overcoming adversity with hope

I love this authors storytelling building characters and weaving in adversity, hope, faith working itself out and a journey for all characters.

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Tender story

I really loved the sad gentle nature of this story and the characters within. Such a lovely narration

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Great story

What a lovely story. The author is great at making you care for the characters and at making the characters believable.

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  • NC
  • 21-10-23

what a wonderful wonderful book 🤍

This book is so well written. I highly recommend it. Absolutelty beautiful. and v sad and informative about the kind of schools Indian children were forced to live in away from their family and culture. This book has heart and soul. fantastic writer I shall b following and reading his other work. Narration couldn't have been better ✨ Thank u!

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Very touching story

Loved it!
If you’re a fan of historical fiction, this is perfect.
I’m so glad that I’ve discovered this author.

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