A review by alyssastag
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I liked this book more after I finished it than while I was reading it. Acevedo is a poet first, so her storytelling is peppered with figurative language that makes it beautiful but also sometimes hard to stay focused on (in a good, challenging way). The novel spans many years of the Marte family’s history, but I couldn’t help wishing I could learn more about these women—especially the younger generation. Her exploration of death is honest, and showcases how it can be scary, funny, easy, difficult, but always inevitable. It made me want to call my mom.