This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

I was born in Mankato, Minnesota. It's a small town about an hour southwest of Minneapolis. My grandparents lived there, and in the local cemetery, you'll find my grandparents, parents, and a brother. This novel takes place in the Great Depression in the areas around Mankato. It's a story of 4 young orphans, and they travel in a canoe trying to escape their past and get to St. Louis where they think that they can find a home. Along the way, they meet people who help them and people who abuse them. It's a slow-moving tale, but I totally enjoyed the trip with them. Extremely well written, and the characters are beautifully developed. You'll find yourself highlighting some of the paragraphs to read again. Definitely recommend. -June