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schenkepanky's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is based in the true story of a 2001 plane crash en route to the Dominican Republic. It imagines the effects the death of one such passenger had on two families in the US and the DR. I loved how it was written sort of like a poem - I started reading the e-book on my phone and that was a mistake, as the placement of the words is visually important. I'd love to read more from Acevedo!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity
magsapt's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A magnificent work of art.
If you've been kept from reading this book because you don't like poetry, allow me to convince you. I never enjoyed poetry either. Poetry is often harder to understand because many things are open to interpretation. You can't be sure of the author's intention and the words' true meaning. However, Elizabeth Acevedo is a master and will swipe you off your feet. The first question I had was "how can one write a 300-page book in poetry? Will it all be rhyming? That should be your first hint of how ignorant I am regarding this genre.
If you're like me, think of 'Clap When You Land' as prose organized as poetry. Visually it's poetry, but the reading feels like prose. Are you more open to it now?
I hope so because this is the coming of age novel you won't want to miss.
Yahaira and Camino lose their father on a tragic plane crash that shocks the Dominican community. What they don't know is that their father led a parallel life and that the secrets he worked so hard to keep will emerge.
This is a story about the fraternal bond between two sisters that never met each other and Acevedo's main focus is family. That was probably my favourite thing about this book, how it wasn't a stereotypical YA romance. The author explores the intricacies of parenthood, poverty and privilege, leaving the romance in the background, a gentle reminder that there are more spheres in your life besides a significant other. When she decided to include the romantic aspect, it was on her terms, doing so by writing an LGBTQIA character, escaping once again the normative. She doesn't write about an unhealthy relationship either: she shows us how love should be instead. Simple. Free. Natural. Organic.
Acevedo also manages to discuss death and loss beautifully and poignantly: how it affects people in a multitude of ways, how it can bring people together and how it can happen most suddenly (even when it's the only certainty we all have in life).
Her writing is wonderful, seductive, heart-warming. She embraces her Dominican roots and wears it proudly, writing in Spanish when she feels like it, inciting those who don't understand to learn. Reminding those who think their culture is more valid, that it isn't. Hinting that there are more languages besides English that are as interesting and as important.
Acevedo's mission, I think, is to shake us all from indifference. Her main characters are black women, who had to fight different fights but who have suffered because of their colour and gender. Women who, despite living in different countries, had to make their voices heard. Women that know that there's still a war to win against prejudice and misogyny and who know that their odds are better if they fight together.
I want to thank Acevedo for writing such a complete book, a true masterpiece, and for using her voice to voice other people's.
Obrigada também à minha irmã, por me ter oferecido este livro, e à Mariana por o ter lido comigo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
Minor: Death
Feministic!mandkips's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
thereadingwells's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
nxclx's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really liked this book, and it was really interesting. The beginning of the ending caught me off guard, but overall its a great book about found? family, and realizing a person is not always who you think they are and coming to terms with that after their death. I enjoyed seeing the different cultures and the contrasts and comparisons.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Infidelity
Minor: Cancer, Death, Rape, Terminal illness, and Trafficking
The ending with the attemptedsnowhitereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This year I’m finishing my reading adventure with a bang!
These last few books are killing me! And I love it!
Clap When You Land is a story about grief, humanity, strength, and growth.
The characters’ development was impeccable. Each one had their own personal struggles, aspirations and ideals but everyone was faced with betrayal by a man that they admired, adored, and loved.
One of my favorite aspects about this book is that one character identifies as queer and while she and her girlfriend are an integral part of the story, their queerness is simply a part of the larger story rather than the story itself, and I found that so refreshing. Being queer is more than your coming out story.
Another thing I would like to point out it’s the importance of the author’s note. Seriously, read it! The amount of research that Acevedo put into this tragic event and her ability to respectfully portray it in this book was amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexism, Pedophilia, Xenophobia, Rape, Infidelity, Trafficking, Medical content, and Emotional abuse
tesseliza's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Grief, and Infidelity
Minor: Cancer
sheryl_macca's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Acevedo's The Poet X was my first poetic prose book so, for me, Acevedo set the bar. I have since read and enjoyed Sarah Crossan's One but Acevedo will always be my first love when it comes to novels in verse.
Clap When You Land is a real punch of emotion. The themes are weighty, complicated and as old as time but this format offers a modern and unique perspective, a new way of understanding such complex topics.
The book straddles two countries and their different cultures beautifully by highlighting the similarities but not shying away from the differences. Two young women are our protagonists, their very different lives are both affected by the same tragedy, a plane crash where there are no survivors. They each deal with their grief with a maturity beyond their years and learn a lot from each other as they reflect on their past, present and future.
Acevedo gives you an access all areas pass to the thoughts and emotions of her characters but she does so more with what she leaves unsaid. I love this technique, it's well used of course, but Clap When You Land is a masterclass in how to use it to maximum effect.
The novel in verse is the perfect vehicle to explore a large number of issues in a condensed way. Clap When You Land is powerful and effective in its examination of relative poverty, ambition and opportunity, LGBTQIA+ relationships, diverse families, health inequalities, sexual assaults, deceit and death of loved ones.
I cannot fault this book, it makes me excited to read more of this format.
Clap When You Land is a real punch of emotion. The themes are weighty, complicated and as old as time but this format offers a modern and unique perspective, a new way of understanding such complex topics.
The book straddles two countries and their different cultures beautifully by highlighting the similarities but not shying away from the differences. Two young women are our protagonists, their very different lives are both affected by the same tragedy, a plane crash where there are no survivors. They each deal with their grief with a maturity beyond their years and learn a lot from each other as they reflect on their past, present and future.
Acevedo gives you an access all areas pass to the thoughts and emotions of her characters but she does so more with what she leaves unsaid. I love this technique, it's well used of course, but Clap When You Land is a masterclass in how to use it to maximum effect.
The novel in verse is the perfect vehicle to explore a large number of issues in a condensed way. Clap When You Land is powerful and effective in its examination of relative poverty, ambition and opportunity, LGBTQIA+ relationships, diverse families, health inequalities, sexual assaults, deceit and death of loved ones.
I cannot fault this book, it makes me excited to read more of this format.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Cancer and Blood
unread_shelves's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
After listening to the audiobook of <i>The Poet X</i> earlier this year, I knew that I needed to pick <i>Clap When You Land</i> up via audiobook.
A novel in verse, we're following two teenage girls, Camino and Yahaira, in the aftermath of the death of their father in a plane crash. Separated by more than distance, Camino and Yahaira live separate lives and have to learn to navigate the loss. When it feels like they've lost everything, the two girls learn of each other.
This book is stellar! Making our way through the novel, we're following duel POV's from Camino and Yahaira until they start to intersect. We see how they handle the loss of their father and navigate the world around them. These characters felt so real and raw and beautiful. They're incredibly flawed individuals, which is what makes them relatable to so many.
Acevedo is a genius and delivers the perfect amount of plot and emotion. She infuses the cultural differences between life in NYC and life in the Dominican Republic. It's a stunning book, and words written here will never fully do this book justice.
Trigger warnings: loss of parent; child birth; attempted rape; stalking; sexual harassment.
A novel in verse, we're following two teenage girls, Camino and Yahaira, in the aftermath of the death of their father in a plane crash. Separated by more than distance, Camino and Yahaira live separate lives and have to learn to navigate the loss. When it feels like they've lost everything, the two girls learn of each other.
This book is stellar! Making our way through the novel, we're following duel POV's from Camino and Yahaira until they start to intersect. We see how they handle the loss of their father and navigate the world around them. These characters felt so real and raw and beautiful. They're incredibly flawed individuals, which is what makes them relatable to so many.
Acevedo is a genius and delivers the perfect amount of plot and emotion. She infuses the cultural differences between life in NYC and life in the Dominican Republic. It's a stunning book, and words written here will never fully do this book justice.
Trigger warnings: loss of parent; child birth; attempted rape; stalking; sexual harassment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Would also add "stalking" to the trigger list for this novel in verse.