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Once Upon a Quinceanera |
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| Book: Hardcover | 5.51 x 8.26in | 288 pages | ISBN 9780670038732 | 02 Aug 2007 | Viking Adult | 18 - AND UP |
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The bestselling author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents explores the phenomenon of the Latina “sweet fifteen” celebration
View our feature on Julia Alvarez's Once Upon a Quinceanera.
The quinceañera, 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 Quinceañera, 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 itself—how it originated and what has changed as Latinas become accustomed to a supersize American culture. Once Upon a Quinceañera 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 Alvarez’s dedicated fans will be eager to hear her thoughts on this topic. It is a great book for anyone interested in American youth today—parents, teachers, and teenagers themselves.
“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
“Alvarez’s 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
National Book Critics Circle Award: Finalist 2007
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