Clap When You Land

Elizabeth Acevedo’s books always seem to find me right when I need them. And by "need them" I mean an emotional, soul-deep need. And Clap When You Land was no different.

I thought I would struggle with a novel told in verse, but I should have trusted Elizabeth Acevedo more. It was immersive and deep and conveyed so much more than what was written on the surface. It took its time getting to know the characters, but because it was told in verse it's as if you're flying through the pages.

You could truly feel the pain and loss these characters were going through — and not just the main characters. Every single person you came across had a life outside of the story, and you could tell without having it in explicit detail. They were three-dimensional people, not just word on a page.

Even though the book itself was slow-paced, there was never a lull or break in the immersion. I credit this to the writing style mostly, since the verses didn’t weigh the pages down with unnecessary descriptions or thoughts.

I highly recommend Acevedo’s work. I started with With the Fire on High, but she has numerous works that might intrigue you. I believe with my whole heart that she is an author everyone needs to read at least once.

Trigger warnings: death of a parent, sexual assault, details of a plane crash