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This Tender Land cover art

This Tender Land

Written by: William Kent Krueger
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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Publisher's 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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Absolutely fabulous!

One of the best stories I have read in a very long time! I loved the narrator too. Just wow!

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Beautiful story

I feel in love with this story right from the beginning. The narrator was brilliant. Heart wrenching, but so incredibly written. Definite read/listen!!!

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A gem

Everything about this story is pleasure upon blessed pleasure. Beautifully written and beautifully read. A real treat.

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Beautifully Written

I found this book spellbinding, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it! I was sad that it ended because it felt like leaving friends behind. I will be looking forward to more from this author

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Great book

I loved the story line and the characters. I also very much enjoyed the reader’s voice. I would recommend it to everybody.

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This Tender Land

Omg!! This book was awesome!! I believe it should be used in High school literature. It was so heartbreaking many times. Everyone should listen to it, and learn about the depression and how Indians were treated. There were many twists and turns. The reader was good and sound as well

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WOW

l loved this book, it was great listen from beginning to the end.

The characters were well developed as well as the story, I felt like I was in the canoe with them drifting down the river. It was nice wrap up to hear how they moved on in their adult lives.

IMO the ending just didn't seem to match the rest of the story . Seemed far fetched about the Black Witch and the aunt knowing one another .

Great narratorer would listen to more books he read.

Happy Listening

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what a great story!

Loved the book! Enjoyed the story line and the excellent narration as well! Absolutely recommended!

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great

loved this book,well worth the credit. The characters are wonderful, story is engaging and narration is top notch.

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Well Done a Wonerful Tale

Intriging update to the Tom Sawyer Genera. excellent ccharactrrs and storyline, listened pretty steady, thanks

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