15 must-read YA book releases that will make staying inside a little easier this May

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

The author who brought us The Poet X and With the Fire on High is releasing a new novel this month, and it’s bound to be every bit as heart-wrenching and powerful as those two are. Elizabeth Acevedo’s newest release, Clap When You Land, deals with tragedy and grief — and how connections with others can help us overcome both.

The story opens with a life-altering moment in Camino Rios’ life: the day she discovers that her father, who was supposed to visit her in the Dominican Republic, has died in a plane crash. She learns this as she’s arriving at the airport to pick him up, which only adds to how devastating a blow this must be.

Meanwhile, Yahaira Rios experiences the same grief in New York City, when she’s taken out of class and told about her father’s death. Distraught, Yahaira grieves the loss of her hero much like Camino. But when the two learn of each other, it seems they’re able to grieve together:

"“Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered. And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.”"

Acevedo is a master at capturing familial relationships, so the emotions are bound to be high in Clap When You Land. It’s certainly not going to be a lighthearted read, but it’s the sort of story that will help readers reflect on the bigger picture.

Clap When You Land is available in print, ebook, and audiobook formats on May 5.