Scan barcode
ashleycmms's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, and Racism
Moderate: Medical content and Vomit
morganperks's review
dark
emotional
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Medical content, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Racism, and Violence
ashylibrarian's review
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book is heavy and emotional, but it is extremely eye-opening and so important for people to read.
Land of the Cranes is a middle-grade novel written in verse that shows the horrific conditions of detention centers on the Mexico-United States border. The perspective is from nine-year-old main character Betita, and she shares the stories of families who have crossed the border, become detained, and fought for freedom.
The story begins with hope and love as Betita explains why her father says humans are cranes. She creates beautiful picture poems about being a crane to explore life. The first few poems are about her life in East LA with her Mami and Papi, but as the story unravels, Betita creates poems about the injustices that take place. She writes about her Papi being deported to Mexico after his work was raided and the many days and weeks without him at home.
Betita takes us with her as she fights for her and Mami's life in the detention center. The story takes place from 2018-2019, and she talks about the real political climate in the United States and what impacts it has had on the immigrant populations. Betita's story is emotional, raw, and heartbreaking and something that young readers should be aware of barring the recent political climate.
Betita, her Mami, Tia, Tio, and cousin drive down to see her Papi when they find a safe location. In the mix of trying to get there, the family misses a turn and is forced to cross over the Mexico-U.S. border, and many of them did not have passports because they were seeking political asylum in the United States.
The U.S. government refused to provide asylum to Betita and her Mami, so they, along with their Tia, were forced into the detention center until their case could be brought to trial. Betita finds out her Mami is pregnant, so she now feels responsible for all three of them.
Detailed in a poetic verse, Betita talks about the injustices that occur at these detention centers: frigid temperatures; cages they are kept in; horrible, moldy food they are expected to eat; unsanitary bathroom areas; lack of clean drinking water; an hour outside each day; no hospital on-site; physical and emotional abuse from guards; racism; classism. The list went on and on, and it was heartbreaking to read about these individuals who have to fight for their lives just to be treated with human decency.
One thing that held me back as a reader was the structure of the verse. **I did read an ARC, so some of the content I read may be different from the final copy.** With that being said, it felt a little choppy at some points, and I found myself having to reread some sections two to three times.
This is a story that I would recommend to readers in a heartbeat. Raw. Emotional. Shocking. More people need to read about these atrocities and more people need to speak out against them. Land of the Cranes is a perfect way to start that conversation.
The cover art for this book is beautiful and emotional. Very fitting for this story.
Land of the Cranes is a middle-grade novel written in verse that shows the horrific conditions of detention centers on the Mexico-United States border. The perspective is from nine-year-old main character Betita, and she shares the stories of families who have crossed the border, become detained, and fought for freedom.
The story begins with hope and love as Betita explains why her father says humans are cranes. She creates beautiful picture poems about being a crane to explore life. The first few poems are about her life in East LA with her Mami and Papi, but as the story unravels, Betita creates poems about the injustices that take place. She writes about her Papi being deported to Mexico after his work was raided and the many days and weeks without him at home.
Betita takes us with her as she fights for her and Mami's life in the detention center. The story takes place from 2018-2019, and she talks about the real political climate in the United States and what impacts it has had on the immigrant populations. Betita's story is emotional, raw, and heartbreaking and something that young readers should be aware of barring the recent political climate.
The U.S. government refused to provide asylum to Betita and her Mami, so they, along with their Tia, were forced into the detention center until their case could be brought to trial. Betita finds out her Mami is pregnant, so she now feels responsible for all three of them.
Detailed in a poetic verse, Betita talks about the injustices that occur at these detention centers: frigid temperatures; cages they are kept in; horrible, moldy food they are expected to eat; unsanitary bathroom areas; lack of clean drinking water; an hour outside each day; no hospital on-site; physical and emotional abuse from guards; racism; classism. The list went on and on, and it was heartbreaking to read about these individuals who have to fight for their lives just to be treated with human decency.
One thing that held me back as a reader was the structure of the verse. **I did read an ARC, so some of the content I read may be different from the final copy.** With that being said, it felt a little choppy at some points, and I found myself having to reread some sections two to three times.
This is a story that I would recommend to readers in a heartbeat. Raw. Emotional. Shocking. More people need to read about these atrocities and more people need to speak out against them. Land of the Cranes is a perfect way to start that conversation.
The cover art for this book is beautiful and emotional. Very fitting for this story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Racism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Torture
More...