Magic, Forgiveness, and Family: Acevedo’s Tale

Best-selling author Elizabeth Acevedo’s latest novel, “Family Lore,” explores family lineage, forgiveness, and the magical elements that connect generations. Acevedo, known for her cultural storytelling, takes readers on a journey through the lives of sisters in a multigenerational Dominican-American family. The story revolves around Flor, who possesses the ability to predict deaths and is hosting her living wake. As the novel moves through different perspectives and timelines, it delves into each sister’s past, their relationships, hopes, dreams, and personal magic.

Acevedo weaves a complex narrative that touches on themes of lineage, memory, and the impact of family on shaping individuals. The book challenges traditional storytelling forms and embraces a back-and-forth structure that mirrors the rhythms of memory and oral history. The narrative highlights the way different characters cope with grief, forgiveness, and the legacies they inherit.

The novel also addresses the patriarchal and matriarchal dynamics present within families, examining how gender roles, colonialism, and societal norms influence relationships. Through various characters’ viewpoints, Acevedo explores the concept of forgiveness — whether it’s forgiving oneself or others — and how it impacts personal growth and healing.

“Family Lore” marks Acevedo’s first foray into adult fiction, combining magical realism with themes of family, culture, and transformation. The novel challenges readers to confront their relationships with their past, lineage, and the choices that shape their identities.
–Re-reported from the article originally published in Shondaland