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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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.
Review:
I guess you can consider me an Elizabeth Acevedo Super Fan. I have now read all three of her books, and have loved each and every one of them. Her characters are complicated teens. They are not perfect, but they all are determined to overcome difficult circumstances. Another aspect of Ms. Acevedo's writing is that each book shows the very complex relationships between the teens and the adults in their lives. All too often, YA books only focus on teens and their relationships with their friends. That's all well and good, but it's what's going on at home that determines how easy, or challenging, their lives are.
Clap When You Land had all these elements plus a unique story that made for a very satisfying reading experience.
What I Liked:
Settings:As seen through the eyes of the two girls,
both places (New York City and the Dominican Republic) are filled with loving family and a strong sense of community. The sights, smells, and traditions of each neighborhood are celebrated.
But each place also has hidden dangers. Yahairi finds the New York subway system can be dangerous. And Camino is being stalked by a man who would push her into prostitution.
Characters:
I loved Yahairi and Camino. Even though they haven't met, they are both similar and quite different. Each are determined to follow their dreams, but have completely different ways at approaching their challenges. Yahairi has learned, through playing chess, to keep her emotions in check. Her motto is "Never let them see you sweat".
Camino is more demonstrative. She is more involved in her community, but is caught in despair as she realizes her father's death means she probably won't continue with school. Will she be able to realize her dream of being a doctor.
Story:
Neither Yahairi nor Camino has any idea that the other exists. They only know that their dad leaves for long stretches of time. When their dad's plane crashes on his trip to the Dominican Republic, the hidden secrets of both families are revealed.
What this story illustrates is how complicated relationships can be. As the families grieve, long held grudges and disappointments are aired, leaving both girls confused and angry. Why is Yahairi's mom giving away all their settlement money to greedy relatives? How can Camino's aunt (who isn't actually related to her) sacrifice so much to keep her safe? It shows that parents have a whole messy life separate from their kids.
Trigger Warning for sexual assault
Rating:
Release Date: May 5th, 2020
Author: Elizabeth Avecedo
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Genre: YA Contemporary
Page Length: 432 Pages
Source: Edelweiss
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: This is a beautifully written book that shows how determination can overcome difficult circumstances. Filled with memorable settings and characters, this is a very timely for right now.
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