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mrs_bookdragon's review
5.0
This book absolutely destroyed me. I am devastated and heartbroken, but also full of hope. Must read book in verse.
angiedkelly's review
5.0
Excellent and timely told in verse novel for middle grade readers. Eloquently tells the story of a modern day family who are held in encampment in an immigration camp. Not told in a scary way but rather factual and lyrical. The drawings interwoven into the text just add to the telling of the story.
Highly recommend as a classroom read aloud! Adults should read this one too!
Highly recommend as a classroom read aloud! Adults should read this one too!
shandawarren's review
5.0
This middle grade book was heavy, hard, powerful and so so necessary. Highly recommend.
cjmedinger's review
5.0
Incredible telling of life in a detention camp for a grade school age girl. Told in verse, was painful to read, but many kids will love it.
tammys_take's review
5.0
This was an eye-opener to the harsh conditions of immigrant detention centers, through the eyes of children, and their experiences. Written in poem, the language was striking, the conditions deplorable. It really challenged me to consider a different perspective and to feel a stronger compassion towards immigrants seeking asylum today. To find out that the names of characters were names of real children who passed away in real detention centers was heartbreaking.
lolalongstraw's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
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
4.0
This is a beautiful and heartbreaking story of 9 year old Betita and her experiences in a detention camp at the border of the United States and Mexico. It is written in structure of verse. Throughout the story we learn about the experience of migration between Central America and the United States. Woven throughout the story are the histories, prophecies, and joys of the Indigenous People of what is now the southwest of the United States. Salazar uses the origin story of the Aztecs as people of the land of cranes as a metaphor throughout the text. The main character Betita calls her people cranes and holds on to this imagery in order to hold on to hope that they as "cranes" will be able to fly free and return back to their land to the land of the cranes.
This story can immediately build empathy in the heart of readers as we are drawn into the experience of immigration on the southern border of the United States. Within the story, Betita is separated from her father when he is deported during an ICE raid. Later she and her pregnant mother are detained in a border concentration camp when they are trying to visit her father at the border fence in San Diego. Throughout her time in the detention center readers experience the brutal and in humane conditions that people experience while they are forced to exist in the detention center. There are experiences of rotten food, lice, family separation, racism, physical harm, implications of rape, deportation, and more horrible experiences. Woven within the story, Betita uses her words and poems to share her experience and bring awareness to what is happening to the people at the border. While we see Betita reunite with her family at the end, it is not the happiest of endings. Her mother choses voluntary departure in order to reunite with her husband in Mexico.
I would want to use this book in my 4th/5th grade classroom. I think that is would be an eye opening book for many students into the experience of many people in our country. However, there would need to be some very open communication with administration and families about the book before reading it. Making sure to use the book in a way that doesn't scare students or traumatize students who may have stories similar to Betita's, but rather used to build empathy and cultivate change makers and future leaders/helpers. It would have to be communicated that there are many heavy topics or themes addressed in this book including, but not limited to: drug cartel, immigration, asylum, ICE, deportation, family separation, detention centers, physical harm, emotional harm, etc.
This story can immediately build empathy in the heart of readers as we are drawn into the experience of immigration on the southern border of the United States.
I would want to use this book in my 4th/5th grade classroom. I think that is would be an eye opening book for many students into the experience of many people in our country. However, there would need to be some very open communication with administration and families about the book before reading it. Making sure to use the book in a way that doesn't scare students or traumatize students who may have stories similar to Betita's, but rather used to build empathy and cultivate change makers and future leaders/helpers. It would have to be communicated that there are many heavy topics or themes addressed in this book including, but not limited to: drug cartel, immigration, asylum, ICE, deportation, family separation, detention centers, physical harm, emotional harm, etc.
thenextgenlib's review
5.0
Well @aida_writes I’m in tears after reading the MG free verse book The Land of Cranes.
saracosk2's review
4.0
my only complaint is that it isnt longer. this book is beautiful, heart wrenching, and so integral to teaching current events/history to people of all ages. this should be a fixture in our homes to share.