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revengesrose's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Classism, Stalking, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia
criticalgayze's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I am a huge fan of Acevedo's National Book Award-winning debut, The Poet X, so I was thrilled to get to read this as one of my grad school book discussion selections. Acevedo remains at the top of her craft as both poet and storyteller in her third effort, and I need to make time for her sophomore effort, With the Fire on High.
What I love most about Acevedo is that, like with Aiden Thomas's Cemetery Boys, she makes time to celebrate so much of the culture and peoples that she loves. There are so many different facets of Latinx and immigrant heritage here, and she also makes sure to also have Queer rep in a way that feels authentic and cared for.
Acevedo is also a phenomenal poet, and, like Jason Reynolds, is able to sustain the individuality and emotional tone of the pieces while still crafting a compelling novel with them. I do think there is a little bit at the end that becomes a little more narrative than the rest where I think the format loses its function, but it is brief and comes at an understandable point in the novel. Once I realized what was happening, I found the structural difference between the two sister's poetry, and I'd love to find an article or interview where Acevedo discusses the choice a little more.
Finally, I appreciate that, unlike most novel-in-verse (including The Poet X), Acevedo does not feel the need here to give a reason (like, "I'm doing this for a school project.") to explain why the story is told this way. There is form without making excuses for function.
(I listened to this one while following along in the text - thanks to Libby for allowing this to be an easy, available, and free option - and I found both Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte to be wonderful narrators.)
Quotes:
But it might be a sinkhole/trying to feast quicksand/mouth pried open; I hunger for stable ground,/ somewhere else. (Page 2)
I've always loved that phrase for birthing:/dando a luz giving to light./I was my mother's gift to the sun of her life. (Page 13)
He must have realized/his laugh was like one of those paper shredders/making a sad confetti of my hopes. (Page 15)
How could I have known then/there are no rules, no expectations, no rising to the occasion./When you learn news like this, there is only/ falling. (Page 22)
They can't dance bachata or sing Juan Luis Guerra,/can't recite Solomé Ureña or even name the forefathers;/ they wrap their flag around their shoulders like a safety blanket,/& if a heart has topography,/I know none of these boys know the coordinates/to navigate and survive mine's tough terrain. (Page 44)
& if the game taught me one thing,/it's once you lift a pawn off the board,/you have to move it forward. (Page 55)
There is an artist my mother loved,/Juan Gabriel, who was once asked/in an interview if he was gay./His reply: What's understood need not be said. (Page 75)
Fight until you can't breathe, & if you have to forfeit,/forfeit smiling, make them think you let them win. (Page 86)
Can you be from a place/you have never been?/You can find the island stamped all over me,/but what would the island find if I was there?/Can you claim a home that does not know you,/much less claim you as its own? (Page 97)
I am from a playground place. (Page 159)
As if she couldn't believe this of Papi./But me, I know a man can have many faces & speak out of/both sides of his mouth; I know a man can make decisions/based on the flip of a coin;/a man can be real good at long division,/give away piece after piece after piece of himself. (Page 266)
She doesn't look like an American-apple-pie mother./She looks like a tres golpes of a mother. (Page 279)
What I love most about Acevedo is that, like with Aiden Thomas's Cemetery Boys, she makes time to celebrate so much of the culture and peoples that she loves. There are so many different facets of Latinx and immigrant heritage here, and she also makes sure to also have Queer rep in a way that feels authentic and cared for.
Acevedo is also a phenomenal poet, and, like Jason Reynolds, is able to sustain the individuality and emotional tone of the pieces while still crafting a compelling novel with them. I do think there is a little bit at the end that becomes a little more narrative than the rest where I think the format loses its function, but it is brief and comes at an understandable point in the novel. Once I realized what was happening, I found the structural difference between the two sister's poetry, and I'd love to find an article or interview where Acevedo discusses the choice a little more.
Finally, I appreciate that, unlike most novel-in-verse (including The Poet X), Acevedo does not feel the need here to give a reason (like, "I'm doing this for a school project.") to explain why the story is told this way. There is form without making excuses for function.
(I listened to this one while following along in the text - thanks to Libby for allowing this to be an easy, available, and free option - and I found both Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte to be wonderful narrators.)
Quotes:
But it might be a sinkhole/trying to feast quicksand/mouth pried open; I hunger for stable ground,/ somewhere else. (Page 2)
I've always loved that phrase for birthing:/dando a luz giving to light./I was my mother's gift to the sun of her life. (Page 13)
He must have realized/his laugh was like one of those paper shredders/making a sad confetti of my hopes. (Page 15)
How could I have known then/there are no rules, no expectations, no rising to the occasion./When you learn news like this, there is only/ falling. (Page 22)
They can't dance bachata or sing Juan Luis Guerra,/can't recite Solomé Ureña or even name the forefathers;/ they wrap their flag around their shoulders like a safety blanket,/& if a heart has topography,/I know none of these boys know the coordinates/to navigate and survive mine's tough terrain. (Page 44)
& if the game taught me one thing,/it's once you lift a pawn off the board,/you have to move it forward. (Page 55)
There is an artist my mother loved,/Juan Gabriel, who was once asked/in an interview if he was gay./His reply: What's understood need not be said. (Page 75)
Fight until you can't breathe, & if you have to forfeit,/forfeit smiling, make them think you let them win. (Page 86)
Can you be from a place/you have never been?/You can find the island stamped all over me,/but what would the island find if I was there?/Can you claim a home that does not know you,/much less claim you as its own? (Page 97)
I am from a playground place. (Page 159)
As if she couldn't believe this of Papi./But me, I know a man can have many faces & speak out of/both sides of his mouth; I know a man can make decisions/based on the flip of a coin;/a man can be real good at long division,/give away piece after piece after piece of himself. (Page 266)
She doesn't look like an American-apple-pie mother./She looks like a tres golpes of a mother. (Page 279)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Trafficking
Minor: Cancer
mbarclay2013's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
First of all, I was entirely convinced to read this based on the beautiful cover alone, but the story definitely did not disappoint. The dual narration of the audiobook played a crucial role in separating the story and allowing you to imagine Camino and Yahira individually, as well as how they complemented each other, both in looks and words. It was a clever portrayal of loss and the dark secrets that are left behind through poetry which I really enjoyed.
As beautiful as the style of writing was, in audiobook format this made it slightly difficult to keep track of what was happening which meant it took a while to get into the story. But once I did, it was so worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Stalking
Minor: Sexual assault and Pregnancy
clea's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It is an impactful story with strong and relatable characters. I really loved that the story was told from two perspectives, it added a lot more depth to the characters and showed different sides of one experience. I was a bit disappointed by the writing... don't get me wrong: it is written quite beautifully and the small poignant metaphors and details made the story feel very real and human, but because it is written in verse, I expected the writing to be a lot more lyrical. Maybe it is because I listened to the audio book, so the verse format wasn't so obvious, but to me, it almost read like "normal" prose. But maybe that is the beauty of it? I just didn't expect it.
Apart from that, it is a powerful story which explores difficult topics (like grief, identity, betrayal,...) in an accessible and nuanced way. Overall, it was a really touching story.
Apart from that, it is a powerful story which explores difficult topics (like grief, identity, betrayal,...) in an accessible and nuanced way. Overall, it was a really touching story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Moderate: Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Outing, and Cancer
jojo_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abandonment, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, Vomit, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
criticalbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Abandonment, Cancer, Grief, Pregnancy, and Stalking
foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was so good.
Rep: Dominican-American lesbian female MC, Dominican female MC, BIPOC sapphic female side character, Dominican and Dominican-American side characters.
CWs: Death of parent, sexual assault, grief, death, stalking, infidelity, sexual violence, sexual harassment, pregnancy & birth on page, sexism, violence, parental abandonment, plane crash (not on page but discussed), misogyny, racism, xenophobia. Moderate: medical content, cancer, cursing, pedophilia, rape, panic attack. Minor: Drug use, trafficking, vomit, police brutality, blood.
Rep: Dominican-American lesbian female MC, Dominican female MC, BIPOC sapphic female side character, Dominican and Dominican-American side characters.
CWs: Death of parent, sexual assault, grief, death, stalking, infidelity, sexual violence, sexual harassment, pregnancy & birth on page, sexism, violence, parental abandonment, plane crash (not on page but discussed), misogyny, racism, xenophobia. Moderate: medical content, cancer, cursing, pedophilia, rape, panic attack. Minor: Drug use, trafficking, vomit, police brutality, blood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Stalking, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Racism, Death of parent, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Grief, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Cursing, Pedophilia, and Rape
Minor: Drug use, Police brutality, Vomit, Trafficking, and Blood
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Elizabeth Acevedo is one of my favorite author’s, and this book didn’t disappoint.
“Clap When You Land” follows to sisters after their father died unexpectedly in a plane crash. The twist…neither knows the other exists. One grows up in the Dominican Republic, the other in New York. The only thing that ties them together is this secret and their grief.
I loved so many things about this book. The novel in verse was such a beautiful thing to read, and it was obvious that Acevedo is in her elements. Even if novel is writing centered, the character development and relationships formed are truly moving. “Clap When You Land” sheds light on the people which help us heal.
“Clap When You Land” follows to sisters after their father died unexpectedly in a plane crash. The twist…neither knows the other exists. One grows up in the Dominican Republic, the other in New York. The only thing that ties them together is this secret and their grief.
I loved so many things about this book. The novel in verse was such a beautiful thing to read, and it was obvious that Acevedo is in her elements. Even if novel is writing centered, the character development and relationships formed are truly moving. “Clap When You Land” sheds light on the people which help us heal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Pregnancy, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Infidelity
Minor: Cancer
mommarex1221's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
Impactful, eye-opening, heart felt - this story of 2 sisters who find out the other exists upon the death of their father. I stepped out of my comfort zone with this one, as poetry and novel-in-verse is not something I read often and because the author voiced one of the MCs - I opted for the audio book. It was beautiful to listen to and I'm happy to have chosen how I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, and Stalking
Moderate: Cursing, Pregnancy, Trafficking, and Violence
Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Medical content
grainjordan's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Stalking, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault, Cancer, Medical content, and Rape
Minor: Vomit
Infant illness -