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A review by bethany6788
The Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar
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.
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.