Book Review: This Tender Land

In 2016, I enjoyed William Kent Krueger's book, Ordinary Grace (reviewed here). As with that story, This Tender Land enticed immediately. Right out of the starting gate, from the introductory two pages, I ached to submerge into the tale. Listen to the marvelous opening:

"In the beginning, after he labored over the heavens and the earth, the light and the dark, the land and sea and all living things that dwell therein, after he created man and woman and before he rested, I believe God gave us one final gift. Lest we forget the divine source of all that beauty, he gave us stories."

"The tale I'm going to tell is of a summer long ago. Of killing and kidnapping and children pursued by demons of a thousand names. There will be courage in this story and cowardice. There will be love and betrayal. And, of course, there will be hope. In the end, isn't that what every good story is about?"

Mesmerizing! While This Tender Land is not a Christian novel, it causes the reader to contemplate the nature and role of God in our lives. Many horrible things have happened to the main character, and he decides that "God is a tornado." His brother has a similarly sour perspective. He sees God as a shepherd who, one by one, eats his sheep. Other characters provide their views on God. If you stop there, however, you'll never get to the hope and redemption in the novel. Stick with it; it is worthwhile!

The young orphans Odie and Albert are the only white children at an Indian Training School, run by a terrible woman they nickname "The Black Witch." She often sends Odie to an isolation room for his many misdemeanors. After another Indian boy goes missing, Odie is convinced he might be next to disappear. Defending himself, he commits a crime that nobody will consider an accident. He flees in a canoe down the Gilead River, taking along his brother, his best friend, and a newly orphaned girl the Black Witch intends to adopt. Like the Gilead River, ambling into bigger rivers and tributaries, their journey ambles into bigger rifts and trials. This modern-day Huckleberry Finn story gives the reader so much to ponder and digest.

Filled with lyrical writing and riveting storytelling, this book offers an enjoyable escape from the world's troubles. In the author's note at the end, Krueger acknowledges his love for Dickens (we share that in common) and tips his hat to him for the opening setting. He outlines his research and identifies the factual bits to the tale. With the stellar writing, quest theme, believable characters and brisk pacing, this book will surely become a well-loved part of our literary landscape.