Elizabeth Acevedo’s New Novel Explores the Fullness of Grief
‘Clap When You Land’ explores grief and its taboo in Latinx culture
Lately, the New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winner Elizabeth Acevedo has been thinking a lot about grief and life in the Dominican Republic. It’s not only because her recently released novel, Clap When You Land, centers around these topics but because we’re conducting this interview in the midst of a global pandemic.
In Clap When You Land, Acevedo creates a raw portrait of two grieving Latinx teens. Camino lives in the Dominican Republic and dreams of attending Columbia University while Yahaira lives in Morningside Heights. The two have nothing in common until they lose their father in a plane crash. His passing exposes painful family secrets and they’re forced to work through their grief together. Acevedo carves a space that’s often ignored in the discourse around grief and the LGBTQ+ community in Latinx culture. Her brutally honest portrayal is bound to hit close to home, especially for readers familiar with the experiences she depicts. ZORA spoke with Acevedo about her process and the gray areas of grief.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
