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Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA
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Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA Paperback - 2008

by Julia Alvarez

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.


Summary

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.

From the publisher

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).

Details

  • Title Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA
  • Author Julia Alvarez
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Pages 288
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Penguin Adult Hc/Tr, USA
  • Date 2008-07-29
  • Features Bibliography, Price on Product - Canadian
  • ISBN 9780452288300 / 0452288304
  • Weight 0.55 lbs (0.25 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.7 in (19.56 x 13.46 x 1.78 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Reading level 1180
  • Themes
    • Ethnic Orientation: Hispanic
    • Ethnic Orientation: Latino
    • Event: Birthday
    • Sex & Gender: Feminine
    • Topical: Coming of Age
  • Library of Congress subjects Hispanic Americans - Social life and customs, Quinceanera (Social custom) - United States
  • Dewey Decimal Code 395.24

Media reviews

Citations

  • Library Journal, 04/01/2014, Page 51

About the author

Julia Alvarez is the author of the novels How the Garca 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).

Julia lvarez es la autora de De cmo las chicas Garca perdieron el acento, En el tiempo de las mariposas (un finalista del National Book Critics Circle Award) y Yo!. Tambin ha publicado dos colecciones de poesa y una coleccin de ensayos. Julia lvarez vive en Vermont y en Repblica Dominicana, donde dirige una cooperativa de caf orgnico, y un centro de alfabetizacin y arte con su esposo.

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Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA
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Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA

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Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA
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Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA

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Once upon a Quinceanera : Coming of Age in the USA
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Once upon a Quinceanera : Coming of Age in the USA

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Once upon a Quinceanera : Coming of Age in the USA

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Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA

Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA

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Once upon a Quinceanera : Coming of Age in the USA
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Once upon a Quinceanera : Coming of Age in the USA

by Alvarez, Julia

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Habia una Vez una Quinceanera : De niña a Mujer en EE. UU
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Habia una Vez una Quinceanera : De niña a Mujer en EE. UU

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Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA
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Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA

by Alvarez, Julia

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