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dingokitty14's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
samanthad4's review
4.0
so beautiful so sad so good!! my heart was aching for these two girls. what an interesting and powerful story. and the audiobook was fantastic
cheerbrarian's review against another edition
5.0
One of the unexpected benefits of parenting my stepson is the introduction to books I wouldn't know anything about. He's a reluctant (but consistent) reader and I adore reading along with what he has for school, especially know that he's at a high school level. Do we talk about the books? Absolutely not. But maybe someday he'll take me up on the offer. (Fingers crossed).
This was the summer reading book for sophomore honor's English and neither of us started eagerly. I don't read a lot of poetry (Okay, to be honest, I read zero poetry) and it's written in free verse. I was apprehensive about the format but grew to like it. (He did not, to each his own.)
This story as told as a dual narrative as we follow two sisters, one in the Dominican Republic and the other in New York, with the same father and different mothers. The one in the D.R. knows of her New York counterpart but the other remains in the dark of her father's secret family. A tragic plane crash brings them together as they are both mourning the father who was not what either of them thought.
This story has a "ripped from the headlines" angle because Acevedo based it on a real plane crash. The author was 13 years old on November 12, 2001, when American Airlines flight 587 plunged to the ground shortly after takeoff, in a crash in Queens, New York. All 260 people aboard the flight bound for the Dominican Republic lost their lives, along with five people on the ground. It was a devastating loss for the communities, and one that under normal circumstances would have gotten wider national coverage but as it happened only two months after 9/11, it was relegated to the annals of history: this novel is the first I'd heard of it.
The girls are leading seperate but in many ways parallel lives as they are both navagating their teen years: coming into their own identities, wrestling with societal forces, and deciding if/how they want to be involved with each other after uncovering the shocking secret. Unfortunately realistically, both teen girls deal with the unwanted advances of older men and some passages are particularly heartbreaking to get through. Overall though, this is a book about family, forgiveness, and how to move forward after a crippling tragedy.
This is not a book that I think either of us would have picked up were it not for a school assignment and I'm glad my teen son had to read this book.
This was the summer reading book for sophomore honor's English and neither of us started eagerly. I don't read a lot of poetry (Okay, to be honest, I read zero poetry) and it's written in free verse. I was apprehensive about the format but grew to like it. (He did not, to each his own.)
This story as told as a dual narrative as we follow two sisters, one in the Dominican Republic and the other in New York, with the same father and different mothers. The one in the D.R. knows of her New York counterpart but the other remains in the dark of her father's secret family. A tragic plane crash brings them together as they are both mourning the father who was not what either of them thought.
This story has a "ripped from the headlines" angle because Acevedo based it on a real plane crash. The author was 13 years old on November 12, 2001, when American Airlines flight 587 plunged to the ground shortly after takeoff, in a crash in Queens, New York. All 260 people aboard the flight bound for the Dominican Republic lost their lives, along with five people on the ground. It was a devastating loss for the communities, and one that under normal circumstances would have gotten wider national coverage but as it happened only two months after 9/11, it was relegated to the annals of history: this novel is the first I'd heard of it.
The girls are leading seperate but in many ways parallel lives as they are both navagating their teen years: coming into their own identities, wrestling with societal forces, and deciding if/how they want to be involved with each other after uncovering the shocking secret. Unfortunately realistically, both teen girls deal with the unwanted advances of older men and some passages are particularly heartbreaking to get through. Overall though, this is a book about family, forgiveness, and how to move forward after a crippling tragedy.
This is not a book that I think either of us would have picked up were it not for a school assignment and I'm glad my teen son had to read this book.
mzcaty's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
3.0
shelflife20's review against another edition
4.0
Once again, Elizabeth Acevedo weaves an emotional story about the challenges of loving imperfect human beings and the power of loss in bringing people together.
I highly recommend enjoying via audiobook. This format really brings the narrators to life and allows you the magic and comfort of Acevedo’a warm and hypnotic voice.
I highly recommend enjoying via audiobook. This format really brings the narrators to life and allows you the magic and comfort of Acevedo’a warm and hypnotic voice.
inmaculada's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
messina_bb1623's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
rfish0615's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
annamae1's review
5.0
Elizabeth Acevedo's Clap When You Land is. Beautifully written novel in verse. The story of two adolescent girls, whose lives will be forever changed by the loss they share. Richly developed characters take us through family secrets, loss, grief, and love.