The following version of this book was used to create this guide: Acevedo, Elizabeth. Family Lore. Ecco, 2023.

In Family Lore, Elizabeth Acevedo paints a portrait of the Marte women: the mothers, sisters, and daughters of a Dominican-American family. The Marte women, one by one, immigrate to New York City with their families and begin establishing a life there. The four older sisters, Matilde, Flor, Pastora, and Camille leave their home in the Santo Domingo countryside and raise their children in New York City. Ona, daughter of Flor, and her cousin Yadi, daughter of Pastora, continue their family's legacy as the engage with their culture in their careers and daily life, and remain close with their mothers and aunts as they all age into later life.

The novel tells the story of the family through the perspective of Ona Marte, daughter of Flor, an anthropologist and professor who decides to write a book about the women in her family. She decides to write this book after her mother predicts her own death and plans a wake for herself. Through flashbacks, it is revealed that Family Lore itself is supposed to be the very novel that Ona writes. Through a mixture of prose, interview transcripts, and flashbacks into the past, Ona unravels the complex relationships and personalities of the Marte women.

As the narrative alternates between the settings of New York City and Santo Domingo, Family Ties explores Dominican-American culture, and how these women process belonging and divide their time between their two homes. Through engaging in cultural practices such as language, food, and dance, the Marte women remain connected to their Dominican roots even as they entrench themselves in their new home.

This is a story of resilience and thriving in the face of hardship. All four of the elder sisters immigrate to a new country and make a life for themselves and their families. The younger generation takes after their mothers and aunts. Yadi, the youngest Marte woman, opens a successful cafetería with her aunt Matilde, despite struggling with mental health and dropping out of college. Ona becomes the first and only person in her family to graduate college, and further earns a PhD in anthropology and becomes a professor.

This is a story about staying connected to your roots. The older women teach their daughters Spanish and the family exclusively speaks in the language of their homeland. Oldest sister Matilde is an instructor for Latin American and Caribbean dance, and excels as a salsa dancer even into her elderly years. Youngest daughter Yadi, despite becoming vegan, commits herself to finding a way to integrate Dominican flavors into her cafetería, while still tweaking the recipes to be uniquely her own.

This is a story about magic. All of the Marte women have “gifts.” These gifts allow them supernatural insight or power. Flor can predict death, while Pastora can always tell the difference between a truth and a lie. Matilde can dance like a deity, and Camila has an affinity for herbs. Yadi has a superpower for cooking, and Ona can cause people to fall in love with her. The details of these gifts are revealed through interviews between family members, and through Ona’s speculations on her own gift and the gifts of her family.