This Tender Land

 

This Tender Land 

By William Kent Kruger

I’ve had some incredible jobs in my life, but one of my favorites was being a Backroads Trip Leader. I guided people through breathtaking landscapes—Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, Napa, just to name a few. We camped, cooked, hiked, biked, and gathered around campfires, sharing stories and embracing the land. I loved every moment of it. And I miss it.

When I lived in Park City, Utah, Vanessa and her husband generously welcomed me on their weekend kayaking and camping trips. We explored Wyoming, Idaho, California, Utah, and Colorado…so much of the West. It wasn’t glamorous, but they had everything dialed in. We camped, skipped showers, and simply lived in the moment. It was a blast.

In his author’s notes, Mr. Krueger states: "The river voyage upon which Odie O’Banion and his fellow Vagabonds embark in the summer of 1932 is a mythic journey. The reality of the Great Depression landscape that serves as its backdrop, however, was etched into the memory of many." The Great Depression was devastating for almost everyone, but it was particularly harsh on families.

This Tender Land is a gripping story of four orphaned children traveling along the Mississippi River, searching for belonging and identity while navigating hardships and discovering the true meaning of family. Their journey is dangerous enough on its own…but to make things even more intense, they’re being hunted for a perceived crime committed during their escape.

One of my favorite lines from Odie: "With every turn of the river since I’d left Lincoln School, the world had become broader, its mysteries more complex, its possibilities infinite."

• The world has become broader…that’s what travel and exploration do. They expand our minds and souls, opening us up to new perspectives.
• Its mysteries more complex…discovery is intricate, isn’t it?
• Its possibilities infinite…life is full of possibilities if we dare to dream and pursue them.

The book masterfully blends thrilling adventure with deeper themes like the loss of family, the pain of abandonment, and the ugly realities of systemic injustice. It also explores the complexities of growing up and growing apart. Although the four embark on the journey together, it becomes clear along the way that each is on their own personal voyage…seeing the broader world, unraveling mysteries, and discovering infinite possibilities.

One passage that resonated, "We risked a fire that night and sat together, talking quietly around the flames, as we had on many nights since we’d taken to the rivers. It began to feel to me as if what had been broken was coming together again, but I knew it would never be exactly the same. With every turn of the river, we were changing, becoming different people, and for the first time I understood that the journey we were on wasn’t just about getting to Saint Louis."

Ultimately, the book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a powerful exploration of identity, the meaning of home, and the pursuit of dreams…transforming a perilous adventure into a deeply moving reflection on what it means to truly live.