Land of Cranes flies away with the vote....

 

LAND OF CRANES vs KING OF JAM SANDWICHES 

A Unanimous vote!

Vanessa: Both very quick reads and both very different. I loved King of Jam Sandwiches and can totally see kids at my school liking it. There were some laugh out loud moments in the beginning. It is going to be a classic upper elementary read. Land of Cranes, written in verse (admittedly not my favorite format), was an emotional journey that really showed the reality behind kids trapped at border crossings. For me, the story was compelling and heart-wrenching. I can see how both books moved forward in previous rounds but now. head to head, Land of Cranes is the clear winner for me.

Norma: I first read King of Jam Sandwiches and loved it. Great for elementary schools. I then read Land of the Cranes and also loved it. This format is definitely growing on me too. The more compelling story for me, and my choice to move ahead, is Land of the Cranes. The story is a timely one and provides a perspective that will be easily accessible to young readers.


Mel: I liked both of these but my winner is “Land of the Cranes”. This story reminded me of “American Grafitti” which I also liked. I loved the flow of the language and that it was written in verse from her perspective. She had big insights into the adults and issues around her and I loved how she understood them from a simple (but profound) place. Reminds us that kids DO get what’s going on around them even if they miss the bigger complexities. (I could argue a little for the Jam book too but feel like it’s theme is familiar already in other books we’ve read so far).

Steph: I too vote for Land of the Cranes. Although I thought King of Jam Sandwiches was excellent and would highly recommend it, Land of Cranes was absolutely beautiful. I actually enjoy verse because I think it takes special skill to paint these poignant images with so few words. The book made me cry on more than one occasion and there are images that will stay with me forever.

Rushmi: The King of Jam Sandwiches was a great read, but my vote goes to Land of Cranes. Both have few characters but the King was fairly simplistic. I enjoyed reading through to see how it ended. Cranes is a more intense topic, and leaves lots to think about, lots to be thankful for, and lends itself to more conversation around current events as well as diversity. The imagery is beautiful and the story tugs at the heart. My vote is for Land of the Cranes.

Emily: King of Jam Sandwiches is funny and heartfelt while still dealing with serious topics. I really enjoyed the story of friendship, and how topics of abandonment and neglect were dealt with in a respectful and age appropriate way.
Normally I hate novels in verse. The format irritates me, and I find myself wishing for a “regular” novel the entire time I’m reading. But with Land of the Cranes, after the first 15 pages I was sucked into the story of Betita and her family’s struggle. This book was painfully beautiful, and so powerful. I was unprepared for the emotional response I had to this book, and it has quickly become one of my favorites of the Smackdown so far.
My vote is for Land of the Cranes.

Jon: Despite how much I don’t care for book-in-verse, Land of Cranes is a story that not only needs to be told, but needs to be heard. It did not shy away from the horrors committed, but also delivered them in palatable pieces. The mixture of Spanish and English was also nice- someone clearly trying to retain who they are is a struggle felt by many. Jam Sandwiches was just okay…It’s downfall was playing too heavily into the trope

Renae (DDM) - I liked both books as well, and I’d include both in my classroom libraries for junior high. King of Jam Sandwiches reminded me a lot of another great book that was on last year’s YRCA list called No Fixed Address–either of these titles would be great read alouds for a grade 7 class. Land of the Cranes was a beautifully written book with strong imagery. I think it is an important story to be told and is my pick to move forward to the next round.