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A review by monapearl
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.25
This was a lovely book. It's a story that centers largely around grief and the experience of losing a parent. It also explores the impact of long-kept secrets that emerge from a close death, and whether or not some secrets can be forgiven, even after death. This is the story of two teenage sisters, one who lives in the Dominican Republic while the other lives in New York. They lead entirely different lives, unaware of each other's existence, sharing only their father. However, when their father dies in a plane crash, both girls are faced with the grief and consequences of their father's death, and ultimately, his deception.
I liked that the book is told in a beautiful, poetic style, though I wish I had listened to it as an audiobook rather than in print format, as I know the poetry would have been more impactful that way. It was interesting to see the cultural differences of the girls, and how grief hit them in separate ways, and how, when they inevitably learned about each other, they dealt with their father's secret. Ultimately, I really enjoyed it.
I liked that the book is told in a beautiful, poetic style, though I wish I had listened to it as an audiobook rather than in print format, as I know the poetry would have been more impactful that way. It was interesting to see the cultural differences of the girls, and how grief hit them in separate ways, and how, when they inevitably learned about each other, they dealt with their father's secret. Ultimately, I really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual harassment