Peace Like a River

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When Israel Finch and Tommy Basca, the local bullies, break into school caretaker Jeremiah Land's home, they encounter unexpected trouble. Seventeen-year-old Davey awaits them with a Winchester rifle, while his younger brother Reuben, who struggles with breathing issues, witnesses the chaos unfold. Jeremiah, unable to prevent Davey's arrest for manslaughter, feels powerless as well. Nine-year-old Swede, brave and imaginative, is too young to rescue her brother from jail. However, Davey manages to escape, stealing a horse and vanishing. His family, deeply affected by his absence, embarks on a quest to find him, traveling in their old Plymouth with a new Airstream trailer. They follow the outlaw west into the wild Dakota Badlands. Set in the 1960s on the Great Plains, this contemporary tale possesses an epic quality. Narrated by an asthmatic eleven-year-old boy, it celebrates the legends of the West and evokes a profound sense of place, revealing the magic in everyday life. Ultimately, it illustrates how family, love, and faith can confront the most daunting challenges and tragic circumstances.