Acevedo’s work is especially phenomenal in this aspect.Ĭlap When You Land is another extraordinary work from Elizabeth Acevedo–yet another of her books I will be putting in as many hands as I can! Written in exquisite free verse, alternating between Camino’s and Yahaira’s voice, the story sucks you in from the first few pages and never lets go. I am in awe of authors who are able to write stories of deep and significant emotion and impact without manipulating either the characters or the plot. The way in which the ever-present fear and trauma of sexual assault is blended with the storyline and its power to unite Camino, her aunt, Yahaira and Zoila in a moment of deep connection took my breath away.Īcevedo’s writing allows the reader’s heart to ache (and exult, and breathe) with her characters in a way that is completely genuine. The character of Zoila (Yahaira’s mother) surprised me with her depth–and touched me profoundly. Their strengths, challenges and vulnerabilities are squarely in the teenage spectrum of development–as are their capabilities to transcend them in certain moments. They are written brilliantly–like all Acevedo’s adolescent/teenage female characters. Is that in order to win, you also always lose. When Camino and Yahaira meet they must navigate conflicting emotions and practical obstacles. On top of losing her father, Camino must figure out how to keep her dream of going to college in the US and becoming a doctor, which seems impossible now without the financial help and protection her father was providing.
Both must deal with the grief of losing a parent as well as the hurt and anger of discovering he had part of a life with another family.Īcevedo reveals the complexity of the situation and the emotions left in its wake. Both girls have the same father they find this out when his plane crashes en route to the Dominican Republic for his annual summer trip and there are no survivors. Her father goes to the Dominican Republic every summer for work. Yahaira Rios lives in New York with her parents. Her father lives and works in New York the remainder of the year the plan has been to bring Camino to the United States for college after she graduates. Her mother has died and she lives with her maternal aunt.
It does not disappoint!Camino Rios lives in the Dominican Republic.
I could easily have read it in one sitting, but I pulled it out to a few days so I could really savor it. I am such a huge fan of Elizabeth’s Acevedo’s work! I was so excited to get my hands on Clap When You Land when it came out. When you touch down on this soil, you must clap when you land….” The old lady in the seat beside me said in Spanish, & a smattering of passengers erupted into applause. That my heart plummeted in my chest, but when we were slowing & there was a moment when the wheels first touched down
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