Clap When you Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, is the first book I read that is written entirely in prose. I intentionally sought out this book when I heard from other reviewers that the style of writing added to the enjoyment of the book, and they were not wrong. It added a new level to my enjoyment of the story, to the point that I felt I would have missed out on many of the emotional beats of the story if it had been written like a traditional novel.
“How can you lose an entire person, only to gain a part of them back in someone entirely new?” ― Elizabeth Acevedo, Clap When You Land
I think when you lose a parent it is so comforting to find a book that speaks to your experience in some way. I connected with the journey through grief that both girls undertook, they had such different mountains to overcome but both handled their loss in such a positive way, embracing the crushing moments while seeking the lighter ones. My heart broke for both Camino and Yahaira when they learned of their fathers sudden passing in a plane crash. Their trauma and grief were further magnified when they discover that they are actually sisters and that perhaps their perfect father isn't as perfect as they thought. Both girls had a strong bond with their father but in different ways.
“Maybe anger is like a river. Maybe it crumbles everything around it. Maybe it hides so many skeletons beneath the rolling surface.” ― Elizabeth Acevedo, Clap When You Land
It is easy to get lost in the drama of this story and forget that at the heart of this book is two young girls coming to terms with their differences and embracing the change that is forced upon them. I recommend reading this book if you are after something easy to read that is heartfelt and beautiful while tackling difficult topics.
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