This Tender Land

Written by William Kent Krueger

Narrated by Scott Brick

For fans of Before We Were Yours and Where the Crawdads Sing, a magnificent novel about four orphans on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression, from the New York Timesbestselling author of Ordinary Grace. 1932, Minnesota-the Lincoln School is a pitiless place where hundreds of Native American children, forcibly separated from their parents, are sent to be educated. It is also home to an orphan named Odie O'Banion, a lively boy whose exploits earn him the superintendent's wrath. Forced to flee, 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 unforgettable summer, these four orphans will 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. With the feel of a modern classic, This Tender Land is an en"thralling, big-hearted epic that shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams, and makes us whole.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781501903403

William Kent Krueger

William Kent Krueger is the New York Times bestselling author of The River We Remember, This Tender Land, Ordinary Grace (winner of the Edgar Award for best novel), and the original audio novella The Levee, as well as nineteen acclaimed books in the Cork O’Connor mystery series, including Lightning Strike and Fox Creek. He lives in the Twin Cities with his family. Learn more at WilliamKentKrueger.com.

Reviews for This Tender Land

[Karen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Magnificently illustrated with words! Some books have too much detailed descriptions...so that I get tired of pages and pages of descriptions. Not so with The Tender Land. I enjoyed the author’s ability to create masterpiece paintings with his words, so much so that I sometimes stopped the audio to enjoy my mental picture or to back up the audio to listen to a particular description again.

The story itself was captivating...the characters so beautiful and real, the events so exciting and unexpected! Personally, I expect this book to become a classic. Many thanks to the author for creating such an exquisite and riveting story.

[JudySeverin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Best novel I have read in a long time. The amount of research the author did is very evident, he brings those depression years alive! We should be so ashamed of the way that we treated those Indian children, and of course, Indians in general!

[Laura McDaniel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was the best story I have heard in a while! What else can be said but listen yourself!!!!!}}}

[Julie McCarthy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story is told in the voice of 13 yr old Odie, but the prose known to fans of William Kent Krueger will be familiar. I have enjoyed the Cork O’Connor Series and ‘This Tender Land’ did not disappoint.

[Shawn Compton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a very compelling story. I enjoyed the book and recommend it. It has motivated me to read more of the authors books

[Val Menzies · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an amazing tale of the four vagabonds! It’s heart wrenching to know that those horrible “Indian schools “ really existed. The reader is taken on a journey of excitement and intrigue along with the children. I loved the book and gave it five stars. It’s a great read.

[mugsynoir · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the few books I’ve read where when I finished it I wanted to turn to page one and start over. Told with great empathy and poignancy, William Kent Krueger, has written a great adventure of a “family” of four who each seeks out their place in the world and their relationship with God.

[zmagic69 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As usual with this author it was a well told story, but my god it went in forever and with to much implausibility and too much coincidence.

[Edward Beveridgr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Without a doubt the best story I have ever had the privilege of absorbing. There will be times in the future when I will return to this wondrous tale. Thank you.

[Katherine Wallace Russell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written and spoken. Sad to have it end. Well worth your time

[Tiffany Lempesis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"The bloom of a rosebush.." This is very much a slice of life slow moving character driven story. I thought I might give up a few times when the pace was really slow, but I'm glad that I stuck with it.

[Jason · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best books I have read this year. Author must have been channeling Mark Twain because I kept thinking it is just as good as stories Mark Twain’s stories.

[Dianne Pendergrass Matthews · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Perfection!
Relatable characters, historical accuracy, and heart. So much heart!

[Heidi Lotenschtein · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don’t have the words to fully explain how much I loved listening to this book. I think I would need intense therapy + a big, fat thesaurus to find the right words. I’m usually more of a thriller/suspense/mystery fan but had read ORDINARY GRACE by this author earlier and absolutely loved it!! Scott Brick’s narration has to be mentioned-he truly has a gift!! I first heard him narrate Landon Beach’s books (another fabulous author!) and he does such an exceptional job here. Be prepared for some tears but ultimately this book will uplift your soul. ❤️

[joanna lawton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Like huckleberry Finn and grapes of wrath this story wont be forgotten .

[Josie Moore · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent story and beautifully told. A must read/listen. Hopeful.

[Jeanenne Robinson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 rounded up
found family
The Great Depression
Journey
Faith
Trigger warning: multiple kinds of abuse (some on page, some mentioned); racism

[Valerie Keating · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wanted to keep reading. Amazing story and descriptions . Will be reading mire

[Kathy Ireland · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A heartfelt story based on a true part of American history

[Hildy Karev · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great characters & period piece. Took a little bit to get into but then hooked me till the end.

[Barry Barry Kleider · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This's a Story that rings true. Well worth your time.

[Glenys Chafin-Garrett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book, it takes you to another time and place and lifts your heart.

[Satina Anziano · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A tender moving tale of youthful adventure, hardship and courage. It brings alive that era of early depression.

[Karina Pentecost · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing journey!! The author took you to so many sites and places.

[Crystal Foster · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A touching story that had me laughing at times and crying. Wonderfully written!!!

[Madison Martin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A gripping tail eliciting powerful emotion and compassion for it's characters and the lives of those the characters represent during the great depression. Interesting and accurate historical references to experiences/ travesties of the Indians and Americans who suffered greatly during the great depression

[Alla · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I truly enjoyed this story! The 20th century Odyssey with all the twists and turns, monsters and divine interventions. Outstanding.

[alex korn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is totally captivating and it’s populated by fully rounded out people who let me into their private lives.
Sad that the book is done and thankful that I was on the journey. Alex

[mary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the narration almost as much as the story itself. I didn’t want it to end.

[Ben Michelsen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amazing novel and brilliantly narrated. Will deserved 5 stars.