Smackdown Books 2021

Ordinary Hazards
We Dream of Space
If These Wings Could Fly
We Are Not Free
The King of Jam Sandwiches
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team
The Companion
Punching the Air
Show Me a Sign
Land of the Cranes
Furia
Dragon Hoops
When Stars Are Scattered
Snapdragon
The Radium Girls: The Scary But True Story of the Poison That Made People Glow in the Dark
American as Paneer Pie
Tune It Out
The Gilded Ones
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London
Switch

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Ellerslie Campus votes for Land of the Cranes!


For whatever reason, we had a hard time getting into Furia this round. The details were believable and realistic... the coming of age premise mixed with the constant pressures to fit into societal norms and familial expectations is one that will resonate with many readers... I'd definitely recommend this novel to older Div 3 and 4 students. 




On the other hand, we fell hard for The Land of the Cranes. Everything about the text draws readers in. Land of the Cranes is gut wrenching and humbling demanding great empathy and compassion from readers. This is a highly engaging text told through the eyes and words of a young poet at heart as she grapples with in/justice and humanity in the face of dehumanizing immigration policies. We highly recommend this text in any Div 2-4 classroom (with guidance and supportive conversations for readers as this is a heavy hitting text with a lot to unpack).

"Trigger warnings: deportation, ICE, family separation, physical and emotional abuse, child abuse, recollection of sexual assault, racist and xenophobic slurs' 

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