This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

Set during the Great Depression, the story follows four orphans—Odie, Albert, Mose, and Emmy—who escape from a harsh boarding school in Minnesota and embark on a life-changing journey down the Mississippi River. As they seek freedom and a place to call home, they encounter a variety of characters and challenges that test their resilience and shape their understanding of family, friendship, and faith. Through their adventures, the narrative explores themes of survival, redemption, and the search for belonging in a turbulent world.