There is a lot to love about Clap When You Land. Like, a lot. So I want to talk about it all!
The Things I Loved:
- ►The characters were incredible, and the author did an amazing job of distinguishing between the two voices. Camino and Yahaira are so different from each other, in so many ways. But they also are more similar than they may initially seem, especially that they are both stronger than they should have to be, and stronger than they ever knew. And obviously their common tragedy plays a big role in their character development.
- ►This is a very family-oriented story and I was totally here for it. Camino lives with her Tía most of the time. Tía is such an amazingly strong, caring, wise, perfect character, I don't even have the words for how much I adored her. Camino lost her mother early in life, and her father was absent most of the year, working in the United States. So these women are each other's rocks, and it is a beautiful relationship. Yahaira lives with her mother and father in New York, and has an incredible girlfriend named Dre, who is a great support, as is Dre's mother. Honestly just having our characters surrounded by so much love makes you feel like they will be able to come out the other side of this tragedy. Their support systems give so much hope.
- ►Both settings were done so well. Whether I was reading scenes in the Dominican Republic or New York, they both were incredibly authentic, and I could get a real feel for the girls' lives. Obviously, they come from totally different worlds, but being immersed in both of them was a pleasure to read.
- ►So many strong and beautiful women. While family is a huge focus, the fact that it is women gathering strength from each other, whether they're family, friends, or lovers, is a really great concept. Of course there were men in their lives that they loved, don't get me wrong, but having this story be so female-centric was a really powerful choice.
The One Thing I Had Trouble With:
- ►Especially during the first half of the book, while I really appreciated the story and characters, I just didn't feel fully emotionally connected. The best way I can describe it is that I felt empathetic from a distance. And perhaps that is on me, maybe I just have problems with verse? It really may be. But even with such an emotional plot, it took until at least halfway before I really felt the emotions, rather than merely acknowledged them.
Bottom Line: It was an absolute joy and heartbreak to take this journey with Camino and Yahaira, and I absolutely recommend that you do too.