Who Would Like This Book:
Elizabeth Acevedo weaves magic in this novel-in-verse about two teens - one in New York City, one in the Dominican Republic - who discover each other after a tragic event. The writing is lyrical and powerful, making even the heaviest emotions come alive. If you love books that explore grief, family secrets, complex identities, and sisterhood, or if you like poetic storytelling that grabs your heart, this is a must-read. The book also offers rich cultural representation and a realistic look at navigating multiple worlds. YA fans, poetry lovers, and anyone who craves an emotional gut punch will find something to treasure here.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers may not enjoy the novel-in-verse format or find the shifting perspectives between Camino and Yahaira a bit confusing at first. The pacing can feel slow initially, and the rawness of the girls' grief might be overwhelming for those sensitive to heavy emotional themes or who aren’t in the mood for tough topics like loss, betrayal, or mentions of sexual assault. If you prefer more traditional prose or lighter stories, this one may not be your cup of tea.
About:
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo is a novel in verse that tells the moving story of two teenage girls, Camino and Yahaira, who are devastated when their father dies in a plane crash while traveling from New York City to the Dominican Republic. Unbeknownst to each other, they discover that they share the same father, who had two separate families. The book explores themes of love, family, grief, and secrets as the girls navigate through their loss and uncover the truth about their father's double life. Written in verse, the novel captures the emotions and struggles of the characters as they come to terms with their new reality and find solace in each other's existence.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include the death of a parent, sexual assault, stalking, and grief.
From The Publisher:
Goodreads Choice Awards
Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book
Amazon.com Best Books of the Month
IndieBound Indie Next List Top Ten Pick
Odyssey Honor Audiobook
Audie Award
Rainbow Book List
ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults
Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book
In a novel-in-verse that brims with grief and love, National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.
Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…
In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal's office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.
Separated by distance-and Papi's secrets-the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.
And then, when it seems like they've lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.
Great for summer reading or anytime! Clap When You Land is a Today show pick for "25 children's books your kids and teens won't be able to put down this summer!"
Plus don't miss Elizabeth Acevedo's The Poet X and With the Fire on High!
Ratings (23)
Incredible (6) | |
Loved It (8) | |
Liked It (5) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (1) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (65):
Read It (24) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (32) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (6) |
4 comment(s)
Veers too often into prosiness. The opening stanza, about mud, is well written.
5 stars.
this novel was written so beautifully.
elizabeth acevedo really does have such a natural gift for storytelling. i loved this book start to finish, and if there was a way to give it a 5.5 stars, i 100% would.
Listened to this, highly recommend. Very beautiful written and heartfelt!
“Clap When You Land” is a teen novel written in verse that tells the story of two girls who are joined together through shared grief.
Camino Rios is a fifteen year old girl living with her aunt in the Dominican Republic. She assists her aunt as she works as a healer in their town and looks forward to the summer since this is when her father comes to visit.
Yahaira Rios is a fifteen year old girl who lives in New York with her mom and dad. Yahaira is a dutiful daughter and enjoys reading fashion magazine and is a former chess champion.
The novel begins with Camino arriving at the airport to meet her father and receiving the horrible news that his plane has crashed. As the novel progresses, both girls grieve the loss of their father and eventually discover that their deceased father had many secrets, some known and some unknown.
Although Camino and Yahaira have grown up in different environments, they are both two strong willed young women. In addition, while both girls have preconceived notions of the other, by the end of the novel, it is their shared grief that bonds them together as a family.
I like that the novel is written with alternating chapters between Camino and Yahaira since this provides an opportunity to highlight their individual personalities. Some readers of this novel have been upset by the lesbian relationship mentioned in the novel but I feel that the author presents the relationship in a matter of fact manner which doesn’t take away from the whole story of lessens its overall impact. In closing, I feel that “Clap When You Land” is a wonderful teen novel that shows the power of loss, love, forgiveness, and family.
What can you read after
Clap When You Land?
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