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foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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
4.0
This was so good.
Rep: Dominican-American lesbian female MC, Dominican female MC, BIPOC sapphic female side character, Dominican and Dominican-American side characters.
CWs: Death of parent, sexual assault, grief, death, stalking, infidelity, sexual violence, sexual harassment, pregnancy & birth on page, sexism, violence, parental abandonment, plane crash (not on page but discussed), misogyny, racism, xenophobia. Moderate: medical content, cancer, cursing, pedophilia, rape, panic attack. Minor: Drug use, trafficking, vomit, police brutality, blood.
Rep: Dominican-American lesbian female MC, Dominican female MC, BIPOC sapphic female side character, Dominican and Dominican-American side characters.
CWs: Death of parent, sexual assault, grief, death, stalking, infidelity, sexual violence, sexual harassment, pregnancy & birth on page, sexism, violence, parental abandonment, plane crash (not on page but discussed), misogyny, racism, xenophobia. Moderate: medical content, cancer, cursing, pedophilia, rape, panic attack. Minor: Drug use, trafficking, vomit, police brutality, blood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, and Medical content
Minor: Drug use, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, and Trafficking
cg1256's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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? Yes
4.25
Really good book to read and almost brought me to tears. The writing is absolutely beautiful!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Trafficking
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
olivialandryxo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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 is the second book I’ve read by Acevedo, and I’ll happily repeat countless others when I say that she’s an extremely talented writer. I also partially listened to the audiobook, and Acevedo is one of two narrators; I love listening to her narrate her work.
I think I like this one even more than The Poet X. Admittedly, for the first hundred pages or so, I struggled to differentiate between Camino and Yahaira and get invested in their story. But despite my rocky start, I ended up quite invested in both girls and the way their stories intertwined. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like Clap When You Land, in that regard—one that writes sibling relationships in such a unique way, examines family secrets and love and how loss can lead to gain in unexpected ways.
Only when I started reading did I realize that Acevedo based this story off of a real tragedy, the AA587 plane crash in November 2001. That realization intensified the emotions within the pages, even though the novel is in verse. Sometimes such a method means detachment from what you’re reading, but not here. Yet another one of the author’s talents, honestly.
I’m tired (as I write this, it’s 2 a.m.) and I’m not sure how much sense I make, but I did quite enjoy this book. It wasn’t a favorite, but I’d recommend it regardless. I look forward to reading more from Elizabeth Acevedo, hopefully soon.
Representation
I think I like this one even more than The Poet X. Admittedly, for the first hundred pages or so, I struggled to differentiate between Camino and Yahaira and get invested in their story. But despite my rocky start, I ended up quite invested in both girls and the way their stories intertwined. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like Clap When You Land, in that regard—one that writes sibling relationships in such a unique way, examines family secrets and love and how loss can lead to gain in unexpected ways.
Only when I started reading did I realize that Acevedo based this story off of a real tragedy, the AA587 plane crash in November 2001. That realization intensified the emotions within the pages, even though the novel is in verse. Sometimes such a method means detachment from what you’re reading, but not here. Yet another one of the author’s talents, honestly.
I’m tired (as I write this, it’s 2 a.m.) and I’m not sure how much sense I make, but I did quite enjoy this book. It wasn’t a favorite, but I’d recommend it regardless. I look forward to reading more from Elizabeth Acevedo, hopefully soon.
Representation
- Afro-Dominican protagonist
- Latinx protagonist
- established sapphic romance
- side characters of color
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Blood, Medical content, and Trafficking
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, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Grief
Minor: Cancer and Blood