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At this point, I think I have an obsession with Elizabeth Acevedo and her writing and poetry. Clap When You Land is the third book of hers that I’ve felt completely drawn into. A heartbreaking story about newfound family, losing loved ones, and not recognizing the person you thought you knew.
In case you missed it, here are some posts I wrote within the past month:
Reality Check Design Process // I’m writing a poetry novel!
Where Are the Parents in Young Adult Books?
Is Original Content Nonexistent?
How Do Book Triggers Affect You? // Let’s Talk Bookish
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo Published by HarperCollins on May 5, 2020
Genres: Coming of Age, Family, General, Hispanic & Latino, Novels in Verse, People & Places, United States, Young Adult Fiction
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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.
Characters
Camino and Yahaira are some of the most interesting pair. While Camino was more emotional and open with herself, Yahaira was more guarded and kept herself close to only those who understood her.
Camino’s life was breezy and beachy with her mom and auntie Tia Solana. Her duties were to her family, her dad and her dreams to go to Columbia University to become a doctor. She was so emotionally intriguing to read, but I could tell there was so much anger behind her thoughts. Especially behind her father not always being in her life.
Yahaira’s personality was more serious; her dad taught her how to play chess, turning her into a prodigy at a young age. But after her father’s death, she quit playing chess and became a shell of a person. Like Camino, she held a lot of resentment and anger towards her parents.
Culture & History
I loved listening/reading along with Camino’s descriptions of her Dominican culture—the food, the cooking, her loud family all around her, the beach she’d always go to for solace, the trees! I already knew of Yahaira’s experience living in New York, since I’ve been to NYC a couple of times. But I’ve never been to DR, so hearing Camino’s descriptions of her home country was amazing.
Relationships and Friendships
Each relationship was very emotional and brought me closer to the story. Yahaira and her best friend/girlfriend Dre, so there’s some lesbian representation here. It sucks that Dre’s character wasn’t more of a bigger feature, but she was very supportive and understanding of Yahaira’s grieving process. For the moments I did read, they seemed to have a very close relationship.
Camino lost her mother when she was young, so she had her Tìa guiding her, mentoring her, basically became a mother figure to her. Tìa was also very spiritual and prayed to the Saints daily, which bled into Camino’s own beliefs. Often, Camino didn’t know what or how to believe in anything, since her father died so suddenly.
Yahaira and Camino’s relationship with each other started off awkward and almost cold. I mean, how do you have a relationship with a sister you just found out existed months ago? Both girls turned their anger and hurt onto each other, especially Camino. She didn’t know how to deal with not only losing both parents, but gaining a sister she’s supposed to be “grateful” for. I know I wouldn’t know how to feel or act or be. However, when it came down to El Cero, this creepy predator who was stalking Camino, Yahaira did everything she could to protect her sister.
A Ton of Daddy Issues
Yahaira got the strict, controlling dad, while Camino got the fun, cool dad who didn’t take life seriously. And I think those two versions of the same man affected both girls. They affected them both, and Yahaira’s mother. Yahaira’s mother was a headstong, determined, no-nonsense woman. And when it came to her children, she was even more on the defensive. It made me kinda side-eye her a bit at her reasoning as to why she didn’t tell Yahaira about her dad’s affair. But I guess it was necessary because she didn’t want Yahaira to resent and hate her dad.
Camino’s memories with her father made my heart break even more for her pain. Her childhood memories waiting for her dad to come home reminded me of my own dad and wishing he’d be back home with our family.
Clap When You Land – Writing Style/Narration
As always, Elizabeth Acevedo never fails to draw me in with her storytelling and sentimental family moments. This story was based on the real-life tragedy of American Airlines Flight 587, which flown from Dominican Republic to New York City. The flight occured 2 months after 9/11, killing 250 Dominicans. I had never heard of this story before reading this book, probably because I was around seven or eight years old during that time. I didn’t hear about it in school, either. It’s good that Acevedo brought attention to this news story.
I remember being 13 years old and my whole community being rocked by this flight. We knew people who were on that plane — it seemed like everybody knew somebody. I’ve always thought about that moment. What are the tragedies that affect one particular community, and the rest of the world moves on as if the world hasn’t stopped for a particular group of people?
Acevedo’s interview with People En Espanõl back in May 5, 2020
Although it took me a long while to finish, I’m glad that I picked this audiobook and physical book up.
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Comment below! Have you read Clap When You Land? Did you like it?
Thanks for reading!
Oh wow, I’m going to have to check this out. I lived in the DR for 6 months and never heard about the flight either. I was in high school when 9/11 happened and it wasn’t mentioned then either.
I hope you do check this book out! How was DR your time there? Was it fun there?
And yeah, it’s crazy how I never heard about the flight tragedy either. It’s so sad… but it makes for a good story.
It was amazing. I miss it so much. The country was beautiful and fun to walk around. Oh and don’t get me started on the food.
I’m so jealous!! I’ve never been to DR but my niece went for her best friend’s bachelorette party and she said it was beautiful there. Were you there for work or play?
It really is beautiful, Neither, I studied abroad. My major was Spanish.
(replying to your last comment. don’t know why it won’t let me keep the comment thread) but that’s so cool that you study abroad in DR! I’d always wanted to do that in college. I took French in high school.