Clap When You Land

By: Elizabeth Acevedo

4/5 Herbs

Camino lives in the Dominican Republic, anxiously awaiting her father's arrival each summer. She doesn't see her father much, but without fail, he visits her every July for her birthday. Every other week of the year, Camino's father lives in New York, where he makes enough money to help her live comfortably in the Dominican Republic. Motherless, Camino relies on her aunt and her father's money to change her life.

Yahaira lives in New York City, anxiously dreading the weeks her father leaves every summer. He father claims each trip down to the Dominican Republic is a work trip. Yahaira had no reason to not trust her father until one day, she stumbles upon incriminating paperwork. She's not sure she'll ever be able to trust her family and her life again.

Neither girl knows the other exists until a plane crash turns their worlds upside down. Full of grief and distrust, both girls embark on a journey to seek the truth. Will they find what they are looking for? Can love and family prevail in the end?

Clap When You Land is another Acevedo masterpiece. I'm truly not a fan of prose, but after reading The Poet X about a year ago, I've changed my mind. I was really excited to hear Acevedo was writing another novel, and she didn't disappoint! This story is so full of grief and emotion, it's hard not to feel the hardships each character faces.

In fact, during the time span I was reading this book, my beloved dog died. I know a dog does not relate to a father in any way, but I found comfort in this book nonetheless. To me, that shows that Clap When You Land could provide comfort to those who need it the most.

Alongside that, Acevedo addresses so many important issues without taking away from the main concept of grief. Sexual assault, sexuality, identify crisis, monetary issues, and dreams are all addressed in this wonderful book. The more I read, the more I'm realizing that LGBTQ characters are inserted with ease, and coming out isn't even a main priority of the authors. Sexual assault is addressed, but the victims emerge stronger and more powerful (as opposed to being a weak individual who needs a love interest to make things better...). Dreams are reached through will and determination rather than a stroke of good luck. I love the way all these issues were addressed by Acevedo! She is an expert at weaving relatable, thought-provoking, magnificent stories, and Clap When You Land is no different.

Suggested Pairing: The Truth About Keeping Secrets - Savannah Brown