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Clap When You Land Hardcover – May 5, 2020
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In a novel-in-verse that brims with grief and love, National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.
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.
Great for summer reading or anytime! Clap When You Land is a Today show pick for “25 children’s books your kids and teens won’t be able to put down this summer!"
Plus don't miss Elizabeth Acevedo's The Poet X and With the Fire on High!
- Print length432 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherQuill Tree Books
- Publication dateMay 5, 2020
- Grade level9 - 12
- Reading age14 - 17 years
- Dimensions5.5 x 1.33 x 8.25 inches
- ISBN-100062882767
- ISBN-13978-0062882769
- Lexile measureHL800L
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Tackles family secrets, toxic masculinity, and socio-economic differences with incisive clarity and candor... Every line is laced with betrayal and longing as the teens struggle with loving someone despite his imperfections. A standing ovation." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Returning to verse, Acevedo subtly, skillfully uses language and rhythm to give voice to the sisters’ grief, anger, and uncertainty; Camino’s introspective openness; and Yahaira’s tendency toward order and leadership. Raw and emotional, Acevedo’s exploration of loss packs an effective double punch, unraveling the aftermath of losing a parent alongside the realities of familial inheritance." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Acevedo's free verse poems for each girl share an easy cadence and thoughtfulness, yet each girl's perspective is clear: Camino is strong but fearful of the dangers that threaten her life and hopes; Yahaira's anger is palpable, but so is her tenderness and love for her girlfriend Dre.... Memorable for its treatment of grief, depiction of family ties, and lyrical strength, expect a well-deserved high demand." — Booklist
"The book is blunt about the financial disparity between the girls and its implications, but it’s also tender as the two families, or what’s left of them, come together in the Dominican Republic to bury the girls’ father and, despite hurt and betrayal, find connections. " — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Lush imagery and masterful characterization give readers a look at the lives of two 16-year-old girls whose worlds couldn’t be further apart, but who long for connection in the face of life-altering tragedy... Crisp verse depicts heartbreak and bravery, while expert pacing culminates in a lyrical achievement in storytelling that is highly recommended." — School Library Journal (starred review)
"Acevedo's poetry at one moment envelops readers through vibrant description, and the next pierces them with all-too-effective phrases... Her quick, penetrating verse is lean and decisive, her blank spaces expertly planned moments of held breath. Finishing the book is not unlike touching ground again after a flight." — Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"In two distinct voices, Acevedo explores the rich inner lives of the sudden half-sisters as they grapple with their complicated feelings about their father and the secrets he kept." — Horn Book (starred review)
About the Author
Elizabeth Acevedo is the author of The Poet X—which won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, the Pura Belpré Award, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and the Walter Award—as well as With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land. She is a National Poetry Slam champion and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland. Acevedo lives with her partner in Washington, DC. You can find out more about her at www.acevedowrites.com.
Product details
- Publisher : Quill Tree Books (May 5, 2020)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 432 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062882767
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062882769
- Reading age : 14 - 17 years
- Lexile measure : HL800L
- Grade level : 9 - 12
- Item Weight : 1.12 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 1.33 x 8.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #40,015 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

ELIZABETH ACEVEDO is the author of Clap When You Land, With the Fire on High and The Poet X, which won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, the Pura Belpré Award, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and the Walter Award, amongst many others. She is a National Poetry Slam champion and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland. Acevedo lives with her family in Washington, DC. You can find out more about her at www.acevedowrites.com.
Customer reviews
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2021
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Underneath the story of grief is this tension around family secrets and what that can do to people. I loved how Acevedo captured this mentality of “we didn’t tell you because we wanted to protect you” and how selfish and damaging that is. Ultimately, the person “you” are protecting, isn’t really the person you’re protecting, “you’re” only protecting yourself from a painful reality. By taking the choice away from someone, the consequences of that secret become far more damaging, and as someone who has been in a similar situation, Acevedo captured those raw feelings, that anger from the person being “protected” perfectly. But beyond that, and how atmospheric Acevedo writes especially when the POV takes the reader to the Dominican Republic (I’ve been once, and it is a gorgeous country full of vibrant and passionate people), it can’t be understated how important this book is for how it looks at the grieving process without vilifying how these characters process their trauma. These characters show that you can still love someone even if they are complex and severely flawed, and even when someone unexpectedly leaves your life, they still leave a mark, and sometimes leave behind new family for you to get to know and discover. The journey these two sisters take to get to know each other and navigate these unfamiliar waters is as powerful as it is moving, but it took awhile to get to that uplifting part of sisterhood.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved how these sisters processed their grief and how the tragedy impacted them differently, but the book pretty much starts on the worst day of these girls’ lives, and for almost 80% of the story, the reader stays firmly in these girls’ trauma. Which is a lot, and can be incredibly heavy and scary at times, especially as one of the sisters is in more danger now with her father gone. The book does end on an uplifting note, things turn around for both girls and the reader is left feeling hopeful for both of their futures and excited that this fractured family is building and becoming whole again, but I felt it was almost too little of the “good” with how much the book hyper focused in on these girl’s pain. It could simply be that I read this at a bad time, the world is still raw and scary and so my emotional capacity for heavy topics is already pretty low, but that’s ultimately why I’m giving this 4 stars. I just wanted a little more of their life after tragedy, especially as Acevedo’s writing was such a joy to read. I would highly recommend this book though, maybe not when someone is emotionally tender, but it is an important read for both diversity and for normalizing grief. I also wonder if listening to the audio version of this book would have a different impact as then, I’d imagine, the verse format can really shine, and maybe the heavier parts wouldn't have weighed me down as much as they did.
Yahaira lives in New York City with her mother and father. Yahaira found out last year that her father has been having an affair with a woman in the DR and that his annual work trips are actually to visit her. Angry and confused, Yahaira has shut down and pushed her father away. As he leaves again for his annual trip, Yahaira debates asking him to stay. Asking to reconcile when he returns, Yahaira chooses to brush him off again. When he dies on his way to the DR in a plane crash, Yahaira loses any opportunity she had to get answers or make amends.
It is only after Papi's death that Camino learns that Papi had another family in the States. When she finds her half sister Yahaira online, she's shocked and hurt at the undeniable similarities between them. She decides to make contact with Yahaira, if for nothing more than to tell Yahaira she exists and is ultimately entitled to some of the money from airline for Papi's death.
The two girls connect and Yahaira even chooses to fly out to the DR to bury her father and meet her sister. What unfolds is a powerful and moving story of love, family, and forgiveness in the wake of tragedy and deception.
Based on the true story of Flight AA587 that crashed in November 2001 on its way from NYC to the DR, this was an emotional and powerful story. Though Papi led a double life while he was alive, his death brought upon a merging of the two families. This book explored so many deep themes such as love, loss, grief, lies, deceit, heritage, and the bonds of blood.
Written in prose form, I was intimidated at first that it would read too much like poetry, where every word is a double meaning and nothing can be overlooked. However, Acevedo did an exquisite job of letting the language flow and tell its own story. No detail was overlooked. From the chapter separators, to the literal type on the page, the amazing cover (with or without the jacket!), and the unnamed main character, the intention and execution were utter perfection.
I did struggle at times because I felt like Yahaira and Camino had quite similar voices. I would often have to flip back and check which girl was narrating. Additionally, the story felt rushed (the entire story takes place over two months) and I was left with so many questions and a longing for more.
I read this book with a buddy read and highly recommend it for a book club. There are many story lines and deeper themes to explore, questions to be raised, and issues to hash out. I can't recommend this one enough.
A book about the Caribbean and long, lost sisters. Love, family, bonds. Tradition has a strong theme in the book. Love lost and then gained.
Thus Clap When You Land was a rare pleasure for me. I did not see the story coming. Nothing about this book was predictable to me. It is one long poem in the words of two girls. It begins with each of them learning that her father went down with American Airlines flight 587 from New York to the Dominican Republic. It starts off grim, with a loss of hope, but stick with it -- it gets better.
I sort of feel sorry for Elizabeth Acevedo. What can she do to follow this act? It is so unique a story. Surely she will write more good stories, but it will never be her First Time again. I feel privileged to have experienced it.
One small warning: much of the book is in Spanish. When I was a kid and understood only English, I was always frustrated by authors who casually slipped in key information in other languages, without even a footnote to translate. If you don't understand Spanish, you made find this book frustrating.
Top reviews from other countries

The plot is outlined on the book cover so there were no surprises there. What I hadn't anticipated, however, was the quality of the description of characters, their grief and entire settings through the medium of non-rhyming poetry. The impact of some of the imagery nearly blew me away or prompted tears!
Having worked in a developing country for a couple of years and because I have travelled to various places where the culture and surroundings were far different to my own, this novel called to mind so many experiences and opportunities that I had forgotten, the problems and challenges faced by the protagonists seemed real, from the very first pages which focus on the mud it is so hard to remove as a result of rainy season in the tropics. The clapping on safe arrival of a plane was equally reminiscent.
Occasional references in Spanish remind the reader that they are being transported far from home and, in my opinion, add to the novel's appeal and authenticity.
My only disappointment was not being able to translate the proverb on the flysheet at the beginning of the novel which I assume sets the tone of what follows. The word for which I searched wasn't in my huge dictionary! But, please don't let that deter you. This book is well worth a read. Thanks to the author who certainly prompted me to think more deeply and gave me a lot of pleasure!

Trigger warnings: Sexual Harasment, Assualt, Stalking
Clap When You Land makes you feel all kinds of emotions, and brings you the love of siblings.
This was a new and interesting read for me. I had never read an Elizabeth Acevedo book, I have rarely read a book that is solely based on siblings and never read a novel written in prose. However, I’m so happy I have now because I have another new found love. It is so beautifully written, with so much raw emotion. The words just flew so swiftly and the characters so likeable.
When I first heard about Clap When You Land I thought that it would probably be like parent trap. Two sisters, separated by parents, both living in different countries, unaware of each others existence. But no! It was more than that. Way more. I couldn’t believe my mind when I read it. How could that be?
In this novel we follow two sisters perspectives and how they are grappling the devastation of their fathers death. If that wasn’t enough for them. They soon find out they have a sister. Angry at their parents and angry at each other. Emotions are flying high. However, soon meeting each other, and sharing the same grief can blossom a new found love. A love they never thought they could have because it never crossed their mind that they could have a sibling, a sister to love so dearly.
𝓒𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓲 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼 𝓾𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓸𝓾𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓮𝓴. “𝓣𝓮 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓼 𝓲𝓰𝓾𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓸 𝓪 𝓮𝓵.“
Reading about Camino and Yahaira, their grief and their new found relationship had my heart sinking deep in my chest. I just wanted to hug them both for the pain they are going through. The betrayal of their father, who they loved so dearly, The thought of losing a parent and having a sibling you never knew you had is hard to think of.
I can’t wait to pick up more of her work, and discover more of her stories and beautiful writing. Clap When You Land is her newest release and you should definitely pick it up and feel all the emotions it will give you as it did for me.

My first time reading this authors book but it most definitely won't be the last.
Well done Elizabeth

This is a book which I'm not sure I would have picked up in all honesty had it not been for the hype on Bookstagram, but I'm really glad I did. One of the main reasons for this is that I hated it when people clapped when planes landed and it just reminded me of my ex 😂 But now that I've read this book, I view this entirely differently and I'm sure I'll smile when someone claps when the plane lands.
I haven't read a book written in verse for a while (since Black Flamingo which I adored), this one was on my list to read soon and I figured it would be a quick read to add another book to my total for the year.
I'm not usually a fan of reading the synopsis but I'm glad I did after the first 50 pages because I had no idea this was following two different people, Camino and Yahaira, and I was getting quite confused. I thought these were the names of places and we were following one character flying between them both. It might be completely obvious to other people though, and it definitely would have been obvious as the story progressed.
This was a great exploration of grief, made even better by the fact it was written in verse. And I loved the lesbian representation which I was slightly aware was there going into this book but I'd forgotten about in all honesty.
I haven't read a story like this one before; set in two entirely different places and with such an eventful timeline. I think this story will be one I think about for a while.

There is a lot to unpack here, but let’s start from the most prevalent: the writing style: I loved that this book is in verse. It focuses solely on the characters development and effectively tells their state of mind. By this, I mean the intervals between verses and how they read, which helped me to follow and discover where Camino and Yahaira are in unpacking and processing their grief.
However, it was a bit difficult for me to differentiate between Camino and Yahaira because their verses both read the same to me. I was about a hundred pages in before I realised that there was more than one main character. Apart from my reading error, the writing style is fabulous.
*MINI SPOILER ALERT*
Another aspect I enjoyed in this book is the divinity aspect. It was so insightful. If you have read this, do you think the experiences explained is mythological or real?
I believe they are real, but my question is what are the “Saints”? or spirits behind it? It sounds fascinating to connect with “spiritual being”- or even like the idea in fantasy novels by reviving dead people. 1 John 4:1 says “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” and THAT is my stance on divination and spirituality. I’ll leave a link in the comments to a video talking more about this.
I loved the plot. I loved the characters. I loved the writing style. On this note, I give this a whopping⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!