Review
Acevedo is a master of time. Family Lore is full of beautiful prose, even-handed magic and all the pains and triumphs of intergenerational bonds. Tender, moving and altogether lovely. Not one word is wasted here -- KILEY REID, author of SUCH A FUN AGE
An exuberant, polyphonic story of one family's reckoning with their past . . . Acevedo's background in spoken-word poetry shines through in the energy and lyricism of her prose . . . But the novel's greatest triumph is in the warmth of her portrayal of these women, their strength and stubbornness, and the inseparability of love and grief - Observer
There is potent magic in these pages, passed down through this lineage of powerful sisters who have captured my heart. How does Acevedo do it? Reading Family Lore is like an embrace, and I am filled with nostalgia for a family I have never had and could never have imagined -- RUTH OZEKI, author of THE BOOK OF FORM AND EMPTINESS
A labyrinthine tale of sisterhood and the chaos of love . . . the depth, grace and nuance Acevedo gives her characters is palpable; her love for these women comes through with arresting clarity . . . Pearls of magic and wisdom, hard but not hardened, the story of the Marte sisters is a treasure to behold - New York Times Book Review
The women's stories intertwine, establishing a fully realised family portrait with all the quirks, resentments and secrets that characterise it - Daily Mail
Acevedo expertly maneuvers through the complex and singular stories of each of these women and all that unites them. It was a joy to experience each character's expressive and gripping story; to acknowledge their truths and to recognise some of the women in the lives of women around me. A remarkable accomplishment -- ABI DARÉ, author of THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE
Acevedo's treatment of magic as an everyday possibility is compelling but there is also magic in the wonder, surprise, frustrations, and joys the characters experience in their relationships with one another . . . her obsession with imagery, interiority and making every word count is what makes her descriptions and dialogue sing; her characters think and speak in voices that feel distinct and alive. - TIME
The most magnificent, intricate story of a family and a group of women . . . the perfect accompaniment for a long summer read. A magical, intergeneration story from an assured debut novelist . . . [a] beautiful book - Glamour
Flor is throwing herself a wake and reminding us that "even a long life is too short". So while we are here "let's eat, and dance, and be alive". Acevedo has written unforgettable characters who breathe new life into how we grieve, age, take care of each other. Family Lore is a big hearted novel, a wonderful debut! -- ANGIE CRUZ, author of DOMINICANA
A dazzling portrait of a family with dark secrets around every corner - Apple Books, Best Books of the Month
Book Description
A big-hearted, compassionate novel about three generations of women preparing for a living wake - from award-winning poet and author Elizabeth Acevedo
About the Author
Elizabeth Acevedo is a Dominican-American National Poetry Slam Champion and New York Times-bestselling author. She is the author of the young adult novels The Poet X, With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land. The Poet X is a New York Times bestseller, winner of the National Book Award and the Carnegie Medal, and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. She was selected by The Poetry Foundation as the Young Poet's Poet Laureate of 2022.
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