Synopses & Reviews
The bestselling author of How the Garca Girls Lost Their Accents explores the phenomenon of the Latina sweet fifteen celebration
The quinceaera, the fifteenth birthday celebration for a Latina girl, is quickly becoming an American event. This legendary party is a sight to behold: lavish ball gowns, extravagant catered meals, DJs, limousines, and multi-tiered cakes. The must haves for a quince are becoming as numerous and costly as a prom or wedding. And yet, this elaborate ritual also hearkens back to traditions from native countries and communities, offering young Latinas a chance to connect with their heritage.
In Once Upon a Quinceaera, Julia Alvarez explores this celebration that brings a Latina girl into womanhood. She attends the quince of a young woman named Monica who lives in Queens, and witnesses the commotion, confusion, and potential for disaster that comes with planning this important event. Alvarez also weaves in interviews with other quince girls, her own memories of coming of age as an immigrant, and the history of the custom itselfhow it originated and what has changed as Latinas become accustomed to a supersize American culture. Once Upon a Quinceaera is an enlightening, accessible, and entertaining portrait of contemporary Latino culture as well as a critical look at the rituals of coming of age and the economic and social consequences of the quince parties. Julia Alvarezs dedicated fans will be eager to hear her thoughts on this topic. It is a great book for anyone interested in American youth todayparents, teachers, and teenagers themselves.
Review
Though [Alvarez] brings a critical eye to long-held myths
each page is a love song to the cultural ties that bind generations of women from a diverse group of countries.
Chicago Sun-Times
Fascinating, exhaustively researched.
The Washington Post
Alvarezs honest grappling with her caught-between-twocultures experience is compelling.
Entertainment Weekly
A journey into experiencing a vital, exuberant ritual of modern Latino life
As an author, Alvarez is a terrific tour guide.
The Seattle Times
A thorough, thoughtful, and important book. . . .Bravo, Julia Alvarez.
Mary Pipher, author of The Middle of Everywhere and Reviving Ophelia
With grace and humanity, Alvarez explores the fascinating evolution of the quinceañera tradition in the United States, responding provocatively to a tradition that charms her and simultaneously clashes with feminist sensibilities.
Cristina Garcia, author of Dreaming in Cuban and A Handbook to Luck
This is not just a book for Latinas. Once Upon a Quinceañera is for all of us
especially for those of us raising daughters in America today.
Maria Hinosa, Senior Correspondent for NOW/PBS, author of Raising Raul and Crews
Synopsis
Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, a phenomenal, indispensable (USA Today) exploration of the Latina sweet fifteen celebration, by the bestselling author of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of ButterfliesThe quinceanera, a celebration of a Latina girl s fifteenth birthday, has become a uniquely American trend. This lavish party with ball gowns, multi-tiered cakes, limousines, and extravagant meals is often as costly as a prom or a wedding. But many Latina girls feel entitled to this rite of passage, marking a girl s entrance into womanhood, and expect no expense to be spared, even in working-class families. Acclaimed author Julia Alvarez explores the history and cultural significance of the quince in the United States, and the consequences of treating teens like princesses. Through her observations of a quince in Queens, interviews with other quince girls, and the memories of her own experience as a young immigrant, Alvarez presents a thoughtful and entertaining portrait of a rapidly growing multicultural phenomenon, and passionately emphasizes the importance of celebrating Latina womanhood.
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Synopsis
The bestselling author of "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents" explores the phenomenon of the Latina sweet 15 celebration. An enlightening and entertaining portrait of contemporary Latino culture, this work also takes a critical look at the social consequences of the quince parties.
Synopsis
Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, a “phenomenal, indispensable” (USA Today) exploration of the Latina “sweet fifteen” celebration, by the bestselling author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of Butterflies
The quinceañera, a celebration of a Latina girl’s fifteenth birthday, has become a uniquely American trend. This lavish party with ball gowns, multi-tiered cakes, limousines, and extravagant meals is often as costly as a prom or a wedding. But many Latina girls feel entitled to this rite of passage, marking a girl’s entrance into womanhood, and expect no expense to be spared, even in working-class families. Acclaimed author Julia Alvarez explores the history and cultural significance of the “quince” in the United States, and the consequences of treating teens like princesses. Through her observations of a quince in Queens, interviews with other quince girls, and the memories of her own experience as a young immigrant, Alvarez presents a thoughtful and entertaining portrait of a rapidly growing multicultural phenomenon, and passionately emphasizes the importance of celebrating Latina womanhood.
About the Author
Julia Alvarez is the author of the novels How the García Girls Lost Their Accents, In the Time of the Butterflies (a national Book Critics Circle Award finalist), and Yo!. She has also published two poetry collections (Homecoming and The Other side/El Otro Lado) and a collection of essays (Something to Declare).