Welcome to Litsy!

#you #beginswith @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This was my favorite book from #May. I just think Acevedo is a gifted writer!

#12Booksof2021

I'm a fan of Acevedo's work, listening to her narrate her work along with Melania Luisa Marte, this was taken to another level.⁠

Each one brought out the emotion in each chapter, and with each character owning a chapter at a time, even overlapping. And I do mean literally overlapping as Acevedo and Marte had stanzas in which they matched breathe and tone. ⁠

⁠#popsugardreadingchallenge #readingwomenchallenge

Acevedo is a must read author of mine. She has a way of reminding you very poignantly of life as a teenager. The narration was lovely but I‘m bummed to find out the book is written in verse. I would have much preferred to read it.

Next up for #booked2021 is my #latinxauthor book prompt. I‘m so glad I decided to go audio on this one as they narrator does a fantastic job- much better then my own brain voice could do! I‘m only a little way in but it‘s a bit like Shakespeare, after a while you forget it is in verse and get drawn into the story.

Book 33 | ⭐️3.75/5
Elizabeth Acevedo is an automatic pick for me; I‘ve listened to all of her books and always really enjoy them. CLAP WHEN YOU LAND is no different. A beautifully told story of two girls both struggling with grief and loss after a tragic plane accident looks into important questions on family. My lower rating is due to feeling like the middle was drug out just a little bit too much and got repetitive. Still definitely recommend!

I highly recommend this book on audio. Acevedo reads it just beautifully. Her writing is stunning. I think this is her best book yet.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really liked that this was in verse and the two point of views of the girls. I liked seeing the differences of their day to day lives. This book did grief well. I did find at times it was hard to remember what point of view we were in.
#poetry #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookreview #litsy #littens

Another example of why Acevedo will be a go to for me.

Just finished this, my #LMPBC selection for this round. And oh, I cried. This was so good. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!

I‘ll mail it out on either Monday or Tuesday. Do we all just mail to the person below us in the list of names in that email unless we‘re the bottom person, who mails to the top one?

@PandaPanda @Alfrazier21 @Bianca

I‘ve never read a whole book in such minimalist prose before, but Acevedo does a great job with it! Her writing style is evocative, and easy to follow despite the restraint in wordcount. Additionally, the story is interesting and I couldn‘t help but root for both of the main characters as they navigated their grief and other challenges.

I've loved everything I've read by Elizabeth Acevedo and this was no exception. This story made me cry several times and my heart ached for both sisters. The ending was perfect. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

As only my second in-verse written book, this was very well put together. It‘s amazing how much can be shared with not as much described. How much feeling comes between the two girls. How different growing up was, being in the dark of the others secret life. Yet still sisters grieving.
Story is written for Flight AA587, crashed on its way to the Dominican Republic. So this story followed the fallout of that type of event

One father. Two daughters. Two families separated by country and living circumstances. Unknown to the other.
So many emotions flowing through these two girl‘s minds. Betrayal and loss. Discovery and a finding.

Loved 😍 beautifully written and a story that pulled at my heart. Two girls from two different worlds. Acevedo always manages to make me cry. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have read more books written in verse this past year and Acevedo never disappoints. I love her writing style.

This was excellent. Written in verse this dual narrative takes place in the Dominican Republic and New York City as two young girls come to terms with the loss of their father. The author's note at the end was very interesting too ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Last Wednesday we were buried under 9 inches of snow & sub-zero temps, this week I got to read barefoot outside in almost 70° temps. Got to love OK weather! But I adored this book, both the audio & print versions. Highly recommend!

Picked this one up on a whim and so far I‘m loving this story in verse.

#currentlyreading

This was our book club pick for February. It was fantastic. I could probably have read it faster, but I‘m a new mom now. I read when I can lol. The description of the book had me intrigued, and it did not disappoint.

Here are my top four picks for #LMPBC #GroupU. What do you all think? Will any of these work?

When a flight from New York to Dominican crashes in the ocean, teens Camino and Yahaira both grieve a father they unknowingly share — finding out about each other in the process.

Read February 4-5
Rated 4/5 ⭐️
Book 9/60

I‘ve seen others say that this might be their favorite Elizabeth Acevedo & I almost scoffed; how could I love one of her books more than The Poet X? But I get it. This is a doozy!

Written in honor of the passengers on American Airlines Flight 587, who died in the Nov. 2011 crash, & who were immediately forgotten by the media once it was determined that the cause was mechanical failure & not terrorism, this book is full of overwhelming grief.👇🏻

“You do not let your words stunt unknown possibilities.“

“I blow her a kiss
across the linoleum, &
whisper blessings under my breath,

divide a piece of God
from my heart
for her to carry.

I know she does the same for me.”

“Neighbors pour into the house
like our grief is a bottomless thirst
& God has tipped this pitcher of people to fill us up.”

“For the rest of my life I will sit & imagine what my father would say in any given moment.

& I will make him up:

his words, his advice, our memories.“

I listened to this book over the weekend and was amazed! I really thought the verse would distract from the narrative but it was beautiful and worked so so well, especially as an audiobook. 5⭐

When Camino and Yahaira‘s father dies in a plane crash, they both realize how much he hid from them. Camino lives in the Dominican Republic, helping her Tía cure sick people. Yahaira lives in New York, but when their father dies everything changes for them both. They both discover the other exists, that they have a sister. This book is an emotional roller coaster it makes you want to cry, and be happy all at once.

Such a touching story in verse! I loved the characters, almost all of which are powerful women who show up for each other in big and small ways. The relationship between Camino and Yahaira is especially beautiful, and it makes me miss my siblings.

Excited to start this tonight. I am going to be honest I am going in with little to no knowledge of it

Got a notice that Clap When You Land was available so I checked it out, read the first page, and was swallowed whole. Loved this book that‘s written in verse and is quite beautiful even though the subject is grief and loss. Definitely would recommend. And still plugging at The Sun Down Motel, which I have so looked forward to but so far hasn‘t grabbed me. (I think I‘m the only one). #20in4. #readathon.

I needed some encouragement to give this book a try, despite the rave reviews, because I largely avoid YA. But this was lovely and moving. The poetic nature of it gave the story so much more weight. I did see the “twist” coming, but that didn‘t detract from the story at all. It was a great listen on audio.

This book makes you:
a) Clap when you land 👏🏻 &
b) Pray when you see a plane 🙇🏻‍♀️

In this book, two half sisters learn about each other & their dad's secret other life after he dies in a plane crash. I'd heard good things about this book, and really liked the other work I've read by this author, but was hesitant to give it a try because it's written in verse. IDK why I thought this meant it would rhyme & be awkward to read but it didn't & it wasn't. I liked the characters, the plot, & the heart in this book.

Started my first audiobook today since the pandemic hit. AND I managed not to cry & get makeup all over my face on the way to work — which, believe me, was not an easy feat! This one comes outta the gate swinging.

#NewYearWhoDis @erinreads

I love the way Acevedo uses spacing.

This book was beautifully written! The phrases were just stunning. I found myself tracing some of the lines with my finger. The plot was great too! Great character development. I wanted to rush ahead to see what happened next, but I also wanted to go slowly to appreciate the poetry.

I read this with my ears. The author is one of two narrators. Written in verse (outside my usual reading bubble), this is a striking story of teen girls who didn't know about each other until their father dies in a plane crash. One lives in the Dominican Republic; the other in New York City. The story is based on the American Airlines Flight 587 of November 12, 2001.

Two sisters, one in NYC and one in the Dominican Republic, don‘t learn of the other until their father dies, and the story rotates between their points of view. This is told in verse like The Poet X and With the Fire On High, but for the first time I read instead of listened. (The audio versions are so good read by the author/poet!)

Based on a real plane crash in November 2001 where 260 people died, most of them Dominicans.

Loved it.

‘You can‘t run from what hurts you, or like a dog smelling fear, that grief will just keep chasing with ever-sharp teeth.‘

A quick, resonant read to begin the New Year and the Free Black Women‘s Library reading challenge 2021 (category:YA). I was fortunate that last year my own long-lost half-sister reached out to me from across the ocean so the theme of familial separation, secrecy & reunion was timely and touching for me.

#sundayfunday @ozma.of.oz
1) tagged book and conversations with friends
2) I‘ve hardly read at all. I hate it.
3) I think Migrations, but I‘m on the look out for more!

This was a beautiful story told in verse and in two POVs that were incredibly distinct. I loved the characters, all their flaws and how their lives were interwoven. But I sometimes felt things happened a little too slowly, or that the pacing was just a bit off.

I know I am in the minority with this one. I‘m not sure if it was the way it was written or the fact that the dad had two separate lives and his daughters didn‘t know. I don‘t know, but it just wasn‘t for me I guess.

Well I outdid myself and read 64 books in December! Some faves include Clap When You Land and Cemetery Boys.

Breakdown:
Library books: 46
TBR: 18
Audio: 36
Ebook: 6
Graphic novels: 7

I also went on a Christmas book binge towards the end there 😂😂

Thanks to @StayCurious for being my team leader for #wintergames2020 and motivating me to get all these books done for #readnosedreindeer and for @TheSpineView for #readyourway and @Andrew65