41 pages • 1 hour read
Elizabeth AcevedoFamily Lore
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo is a multi-perspective magical realism novel that follows the Dominican American Marte family as they attend a living wake for the elder Flor, who has the gift of predicting death. As Flor plans the event, her family confronts their own personal issues and memories, exploring themes of love, diaspora, and familial complexities while reflecting on their individual gifts and histories. This novel includes references to infertility, miscarriage, gang-related violence, postpartum depression, verbal abuse, alcohol addiction, and attempted sexual assault.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Elizabeth Acevedo’s Family Lore has been praised for its rich, multi-generational storytelling, vivid characters, and lyrical prose. Critics commend Acevedo's exploration of family dynamics and cultural heritage. However, some note that the pacing can be uneven and the narrative occasionally feels fragmented. Overall, it's a compelling read that resonates emotionally.
Who Should Read Family Lore?
Readers who enjoy Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo are likely fans of intergenerational family sagas, magical realism, and rich cultural narratives. Comparable to readers of Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits and Julia Alvarez’s How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, they appreciate deep character development and lyrical prose.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Magical Realism
Historical Fiction
Fantasy
Relationships: Family
Identity: Femininity
Emotions/Behavior: Love