Publishers Weekly Review
| The colorful adult debut from Acevedo (The Poet X) explores the bonds connecting the women of a Dominican family in New York City, some of whom have magical powers. Flor Marte, the clairvoyant second-born sister, whose dreams tell her when others are about to die, begins planning her own wake, while her older sister, Matilde, a brilliant dancer unhappily married to the unfaithful Rafa, nurses an attraction to her instructor's son. Their widowed younger sister, Pastora, knows about Rafa's infidelity and Matilde's crush on a younger man because she has a magical ability to perceive people's secrets; her interference in Matilde's life has dire consequences. Flor's daughter, Ona, who narrates, claims she can regulate her menstrual cycle ("your popola has magic?" asks her aunt Camila, the youngest of the four). There's also Pastora's daughter, Yadi, whose old beau has just been released from prison while she prepares the food for Flor's wake. Though the various magical elements aren't very well developed, Acevedo is brilliant at portraying the women's love and loyalty for one another. The author's fans will eat this up. (Aug.) |
School Library Journal Review
| With the intricate family dynamics of Julia Alvarez's works and the magical realism of Isabel Allende's oeuvre, Acevedo's first foray into adult literature is both classic Acevedo and something entirely new. Flor Marte, who has the gift of knowing when someone will die, is inspired to organize a living wake for herself. The novel chronicles the days leading up to the event as her Dominican American family--including her sisters, daughter, and niece--tries to decipher what Flor's request really means. Flor isn't the only Marte woman with a special ability: Pastora can read people's truths; Camila has an affinity for herbs. Each of the Marte women is struggling with a secret, and they all come to a head in the days surrounding Flor's wake. The alternating viewpoints reveal hidden family history and trauma and how they have echoed their way into the present generation. The setting alternates between the Dominican Republic and New York City and takes place across multiple time lines. The novel's language is magnetic, and the masterly character development will make readers want to be part of this complicated family, issues, and all. Covering the topics of sisterhood, immigration, female sexuality, and gender, this timely and nuanced work will resonate with young adults. There are several scenes of sexual intercourse that make this more appropriate for older teens. VERDICT Purchase where Acevedo's novels are popular and where magical realism and family dramas are in demand.--Shelley M. Diaz |
