THIS TENDER LAND

Once in a while a book comes along that, when finished, makes me feel like holding it close in farewell before selecting a perfect spot on the bookshelf where I’ll be reminded of it always. This Tender Land was one of those books. I bought it on a quick curbside trip to a semi-closed local bookshop - in a gloved and masked exchange with the owner - and knew from the first chapter it would be special.

This magnificent novel centers on the Depression-era journey of four orphans on the run from violence and despair at a tyrannical boarding school. Their makeshift family with nothing but a canoe winds its way down a river in Minnesota, and as their adventures along the way bring them closer together, others threaten to tear them apart. The narrator, Odie O’Banion, tells this coming of age story with a beauty that is immersive, and the descriptions of the setting fairly shimmer off the pages. It feels like a new American classic, filled with characters who shape the course of the orphans’ odyssey. The story is gently paced, but also filled with suspense as these young vagabonds avoid the pursuit of their would-be captors. Transporting in its setting, captivating in its writing, moving in its depiction of adventure and human connection: this book was an unforgettably perfect “mood read” for hunkering down at home.

Given the Depression-era timing of the story, there is lots of soup in this book. Lentil, chicken, beef and bean - but at the time of my reading, I was making matzo ball soup for Passover. It occurred to me how fitting this is for This Tender Land, which is all about freedom, family and to a degree, faith. There is a daring escape from bondage, many days and nights wandering in search of freedom, and even a character named Moses. Sending happiness to all who are celebrating holidays - best wishes for rewarding time with family, comforting food, and a wonderful book to enjoy that is as satisfying and memorable as this one.