Reviews

Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar

julieh46's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

bethany6788's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Nine-year-old Betita, who believes her family are cranes returning to their promised land, faces new hardships when her father is deported and she is detained with her mother. In a harsh detention camp, Betita finds solace in poetry and community, clinging to hope amidst adversity.

Novels in verse are so incredibly beautiful, and this was no exception. It’s a middle grade book about a young girl and her family being detained by ICE. The conditions she describes are hard to stomach. The sickness, fear, frustration, hope, joy, sadness, separation, and many other things are so difficult to fathom.

The use of poetry and crane drawings described by Betita really make this story hit home. I loved how fiercely Betita and her mom loved and protected each other. I was holding my breath by the end, waiting to find out their fate.

I really did love the audio. But!! I think I missed out by not seeing the drawings, which would have helped my brain process the story. I understood that the family was being compared to cranes, but it was visually hard to picture. I kept seeing them as actual birds, which I feel was not the intent. But that’s also a me thing, and I do not think it was a detriment to the story. In fact, I think the use of cranes would help a child further understand what happened here.

I would fully recommend reading this one. And please do not miss the author’s note at the end.

julianafern24's review

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

A devastatingly powerful book

shullin3's review against another edition

5.0

This story was absolutely beautiful but also heartbreaking. Betita is nine and the story is told in verse from her point of view. It tells how her father is taken by ICE in a work place raid and how Betita and her pregnant mother end up in a border a detention center. I think this book should be read far and wide and do not forget to read the author’s note.

moniska89's review

challenging informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

emilythelibrarian23's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

dimeuncuento's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

duvsbooks's review

5.0

I keep trying to think about how I would feel if middle school me would have read this book. I think I would have cried, just like I did now, and I think I would’ve been so angry with the country that I grew up in. I’m so glad that this book and many other books like this one are out there in the world. We should learn about these things at a young age, so that as we grow older we take steps to change the world to be a better place for the people who are treated as less than.

No human is illegal.

bookishrealm's review

4.0

If you're interested in hearing my full thoughts, check out my full review here: https://youtu.be/xdpQaKFD8dw

bookishkarina's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5