Lori’s pick for this month: THIS TENDER LAND by William Kent Krueger.
(Save 20% on this title all month in-store and online with code BC20.)
THIS TENDER LAND, is a profoundly moving story about four orphans traveling down the Mississippi River in search of a new home.
The leader of the group is 12-year old Odie O’Banion, who along with his older brother Albert, their Sioux friend Mose, and little Emmy Frost escape from the Lincoln Indian Training Center. Odie has a vague memory of an aunt, who may represent their best hope for a new life, so off they set in search of her. This is the beginning of the adventures and misadventures they will have during the summer of 1932 while the country was in the throes of the Great Depression.
There are other displaced families and individuals in search of the stability that they’ve lost, villains, and possibly saints along the way, and while it is hard at times to discern which is which, these colorful characters all propel the little band towards what awaits them at the end of their journey.
There are religious overtones, but this is a story less about religion and more about grace and faith; the many small graces that are bestowed upon our little vagabonds by complete strangers, and the faith they had in themselves that they were doing the right thing during their quest.
This is a huge undertaking for a small boy, and Odie is often burdened in a way no child should have to be, but he is also their leader and accepts that responsibility with all of his being. I loved the following passage.
In the distance beyond the trees that edged the riverbank, a gathering of lights marked a small village. I imagined the people in the houses there, safe in their slumbering, happy in the comfort of the love they shared as families, as friends. I envied them once, but no longer. Like one of the Vagabonds, I had no idea where I was headed, but it didn’t matter.
Because I knew exactly where my heart was.
Evocative of some of my other favorites, The Wizard of Oz, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, News of the World, and even The Odyssey, I was truly sorry when their travels were brought to an end. I will keep this on my 
bookshelf and enjoy it again sometime.
**********
Every other month or so, we chose a new book for our virtual book club, giving us the chance to share a book we love with other readers far and near. Read along with us. Share your thoughts and photos with our virtual book club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by following and using the hashtag: #bbkwbookclub.