Once Upon a Quinceanera
By Julia Alvarez
(Plume, Paperback, 9780452288300, 288pp.)
Publication Date: July 2008
Categories: Customs & Traditions, Ethnic Studies - Hispanic American Studies, Life Stages - Teenagers
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A "phenomenal, indispensable" (USA Today) exploration of the Latina "sweet fifteen" celebration, by the bestselling author of How the GarcÃa Girls Lost Their Accents
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.
Julia Alvarez is the bestselling author of five books of fiction, a book of essays, five collections of poetry, and five books for children. She is a writer-in-residence at Middlebury College.
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
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