Clap When You Land was my favorite book of 2020. No! Maybe my favorite book ever. Elizabeth Acevedo knocked Louisa May Alcott off her throne and became my favorite author after this book. By page 12, I was ugly-crying. I continued crying until the very end when I was cheering through my tears when the strength and boldness of Dominican women united (I may or may not have been PMSing while reading this).

Background

In November of 2001, a plane headed to the Dominican Republic crashed. Some 200+ people in the sky and five on the ground perished. Once investigators confirmed it wasn’t another terrorist attack like September, the tragedy faded from the memory of most Americans. But American Airlines flight 587 rocked the New York Dominican community. Everyone in the Dominican in NYC knew someone personally affected by this tragedy. The author, a poet by trade and part of that community, imagined this story and wrote this prose-in-verse fiction about the story that could have been someone’s on board.

I heard Acevedo perform her poem “Hair” years ago. I didn’t realize she was the same poet until I did some post-novel author exploration. Based on our shared relationship to hair politics and her uncanny expression, I already loved Elizabeth Azevedo’s use of words before I picked up her novel. Check out her talk at Summit on Inequality and Opportunity.

The author, Elizabeth Acevedo, got her MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland, a BA in Performing Arts at George Washington University, and taught 8th grade English in PG county.  She realized her students were unmoved by books they couldn’t relate to. She considered buying more diverse books but then decided to start writing them, and I’m so glad she did.

Summary

Each chapter of Clap When You Land alternates perspectives from two teenage girls— one from New York, one from the island — who learn their family’s secret when a plane crashes. The death of a parent alters the lives of their children in all cases; the stakes are higher for some than others. The main characters navigate through some pretty heavy situations for young girls to deal with. Clap When You Land is the story of blended families, sisterhood, motherhood, class strife, forgiveness, family, and belonging. What is done in the dark comes out in the light. As this novel reveals, the light is often through births and deaths. The book takes us through a journey of grief, loss, and mourning but also through gains, love, and celebration.

Oh, and there are mentions of LGBTQ experiences. People like knowing that ahead of time for whatever reason, even though it doesn’t play a significant role in the book. 

Why I Loved It

Keeping it real, I picked this book to read during Latin American History and Heritage Month because the cover art was stunning.  Yes, I select books by the cover, and this time it paid off — the book was just as stunning on the inside as it is on the outside.

It’s warm. Touching. Emotional. Clap When You Land used the most beautiful assemblage of words for depictions of the Caribbean setting. The descriptions of the traditional cuisine introduced me to a delicious traditional Dominican dish and inspired me to cook it. New York Dominican culture and the cultures of the African- Diaspora also found the spotlight in this novel. The way the plot unfolded at the right pace — the way the author wove themes and symbolism throughout was just perfect. The writing style was on point…I just love how the author thinks.

There was a heroic moment where all the women, and their ancestors, show up for each other. They are each the heroes. I can see my mom in the character. Myself. Every woman I know in the characters. I think that’s what usually makes me attached to a book— when I can see myself in it.

James Baldwin once explained how writing can change the world by saying, “The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even but a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change it.” This book expanded my understanding of the world. It changed how I see flawed men, families, forgiveness, tragedies in the news, people who grow up in challenging conditions, and the conditions that some women have to support themselves. I look forward to some studio grasping ahold of this story and turning this moving tale into a movie. It was so good!

Other books with Alternating Perspectives:

Aces of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Other books I’ve reviewed by Elizabeth Acevedo:

With Fire On High

The Poet X