Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Clap When You Land, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Family
Secrets
Grief
Money, Security, and Immigration
Growing Up and Sexual Violence
Summary
Analysis
While Tía is visiting a patient, Camino starts to make sancocho, an involved dish traditionally made to welcome visitors. Camino isn’t sure she really wants Yahaira here, but making the sancocho seems appropriate. When Tía gets home, she observes what’s going on in the kitchen. She knows Camino prefers to make quick meals, but she says nothing and steps in to help. Tía never says much, and she has few friends. Only the Saints know all her secrets. Yahaira is on the same flight as Papi’s body, and over the last 16 years, Camino has memorized this flight. Still, Camino is so worried about Yahaira. She knows she should tell Tía, but Tía would tell Zoila, and Zoila would find out about the money and what Camino is planning. So, Camino lights a candle on the altar, prays for safe passage, and makes a phone call.
Camino realizes on some level that making sancocho is a dead giveaway that someone important is coming, and that Tía might put two and two together. However, Tía continues to respect Camino and allow her to keep the secret that Yahaira is coming. This secret is, notably, uncomfortable for Camino to keep—she’s overcome with worry and angst as she considers whether she wants Yahaira to come and what might happen if Tía and Zoila find out.
Themes
The entire way to the airport, Camino berates herself for agreeing to Yahaira’s plan. Don Mateo was his usual gruff self when he picked Camino up, but even he seems worried: the last time he drove Camino to the airport, “the world ended.” Camino told him she was meeting Papi’s body, knowing he’d tell Tía if she told him the truth. To distract herself from her increasing nausea, Camino plans for Yahaira’s visit. Yahaira will have to share Camino’s bed, and Camino will probably have to translate her sister’s awful Spanish. Yahaira is probably also conceited and will expect to be waited on. Camino vows to throw Yahaira back to the U.S. if she’s impolite.
Camino continues to keep secrets, this time from Don Mateo—and this only contributes to Camino’s anxiety. As Camino mentally plans Yahaira’s visit, her stress is palpable. She expects the worst: that Yahaira will invade her space, not be able to communicate on her own, and expect Camino to treat her like royalty. It seems likely that Camino’s negative, spiraling thoughts all stem from the fact that she’s doing something traumatic in returning to the airport, the place where her “world ended” when she learned that Papi died. On some level, she expects tragedy again.
Themes
Camino is sure that Yahaira isn’t actually conceited; she seems kind and looks like she hurts in the same way Camino does. Camino is terrified of liking her and of having her heart broken again. Realizing she’s anxiously bitten most of the polish off of one finger, Camino tries to bite the rest to make them match. However, now her nails just look terrible. Finally, Don Mateo pulls up to the terminal. Camino finds she can’t get out of the car, and her breath sounds loud in her ears. He offers to take Camino back home, but Camino refuses. She’s faced worse. But when Camino gets out, she feels stuck again. The last time she stood here, it felt just like today—but everything changed. Camino isn’t sure she can go inside.
Camino experiences a moment of clarity here as she reminds herself that Yahaira isn’t all that bad—and in fact, that Yahaira understands pretty well what Camino is currently feeling. Don Mateo becomes a comforting presence here, as he offers to support Camino and get her out of a place where he knows she’s uncomfortable. This reflects that he’s almost family, as well as what Camino has suggested is normal Dominican kindness and care for other people.
Themes
As soon as Camino gets inside, the grief hits her. She checks the information screen—the plane will land in 20 minutes—and notices a crowd of happy, excited people waiting for passengers. Camino feels like she’s looking at two different pictures. She knows Papi won’t walk through the door, but she’s not sure if Yahaira actually will. Also, what if something happens? Camino watches the board for 20 minutes—and then the board goes blank. Breathing heavily, Camino grabs an employee and gestures at the board. He gently pats her hand and says that everything is fine; they’re just updating the gate.
Seeing the normal, happy airport is a jarring experience for Camino. She still associates the airport with tragedy, so accepting that life goes on and flights continue to arrive and depart from the airport per usual is difficult. However, revisiting the airport, especially to meet Yahaira, is something that the novel suggests will help Camino deal with her crushing grief. She’ll remind herself that life goes on (as she was reminded when Luciano was born), and she’ll connect with her sister.
Themes
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Soon, people emerge from customs. Everything seems normal, like people have moved on—or never cared. Finally, a pretty brunette with a pink duffel appears. She seems like she’s not sure anyone will be there for her. Her eyes pass over Camino, and then she looks back. Camino looks at the ceiling, fighting back tears, and then looks at Yahaira.
This is an emotional moment for Camino, as she simultaneously realizes how few people at the airport probably knew and cared about Papi and as she meets her sister for the first time. As the girls connect and figure out their relationship, their definition of what family is—and who that includes—will necessarily expand.
Themes
