THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger

I’m reposting this book, This Tender Land, because I’ve been voting for it all over the place lately. End-of-year polls on Goodreads and Book of the Month, for example. It’s been nice to revisit the characters in my mind. ⠀

This Tender Land transfixed me and swept me right into the storyline, feeling as if I lived this epic tale right along with the main characters – four orphans making their way from a difficult school situation up the river toward the Mississippi River. The disparate people they meet along the way will permeate, haunt and forever change their journey – to the Mississippi and beyond. Perhaps it’s my Missouri roots, but this epic tale felt very Mark Twain’esque.⠀

I normally try to give a book review and leave followers to decide if that description fits their reading preference or not. But I’ll take it a step further this time and ask you to please consider this book. It is tender, beautifully written, and leaves me wondering if I have just read the next American classic.