Once Upon a Quinceanera

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 the 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.