This Tender Land

Odie O'Banion , his brother Albert , their friend Mose , and little Emmy Frost escape the oppressive Lincoln Indian Training School. They embark on a journey down the Gilead River , seeking freedom and a new life. The river becomes their guide, whispering secrets of hope and fear. As they navigate the waters, they grapple with the weight of their past and the uncertainty of their future. Each child carries their own burdens, but together they form a makeshift family, united by their shared desire for a better life. The children find temporary refuge on a farm owned by a one-eyed man named Jack

Theme 1: The River's Whispering Secrets

This thread running through This Tender Land gives the story its emotional weight. William Kent Krueger weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 2: Escape from Lincoln's Shadows

This thread running through This Tender Land gives the story its emotional weight. William Kent Krueger weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 3: The Tornado God's Wrath

This thread running through This Tender Land gives the story its emotional weight. William Kent Krueger weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

What Readers Say About This Tender Land

This Tender Land has resonated with readers for its emotional honesty and vivid storytelling. Many describe finishing it in a single sitting — drawn forward by William Kent Krueger's prose and an almost desperate need to know how it ends.

A Passage Worth Sitting With

"The River's Whispering Secrets" — William Kent Krueger, This Tender Land

About the Author

William Kent Krueger is the author of This Tender Land. Known for emotionally resonant storytelling, their work has found devoted readers across the globe.