Two Words, One Answer.
Quinceanera
 Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA $15.00 I graduated from a women's college, where I was surrounded by young women who were told, and who believed, that we could be anything we wanted. "There are stories in our heads about who we must be and what we can do, and these stories drive our lives," Alvarez states in "Once Upon a Quinceanera." Unfortunately, according to this book, the message that young women are receiving has narrowed. Conspicuous consumption, the celebration of "native customs" while simultaneously trying to assimilate into the mainstream culture, the celebration of a girl's physical appearance with little regard to developing her intellectual capabilities--all of these are disturbing threads in this book. Alvarez weaves her own experiences as a transplant from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. into the fabric of the book, providing not only a glimpse at a contemporary quince but a look through time from the 1960s to the present. Read this book whether you are Latina/o or not, and consider what our society is teaching young girls. Where do they find their value? What contributions can they make to society? What doors are open for them? For what are they praised and rewarded? Alvarez ends the book with a desire to gain wisdom from other women; may we hope the same for our young women before it's too late.  10k Tri-Color Gold Diamond Quinceanera Pendant (1/10 cttw, I-J Color, I3 Clarity), 18" $199.00 This diamond-accented tri-color gold pendant makes a perfect 15th birthday gift. Crafted in a combination of 10 karat yellow, white, and rose gold, the heart-shaped "Sweet 15" pendant is detailed with shimmery diamonds (1/10 cttw) and a pretty pink rose. An 18-inch light rope chain completes the design. Enjoy this pendant with the chain provided, or purchase a different gold chain of your choice.  Wilton Wedding Bridal Quinceanera Pageant Tiara Headpiece $14.99 Designed for brides, bridesmaids, flower girls, First Communion, la quinceanera and proms! Appointed with swirls of silver and rihinestones  Estrella's Quincea¸«Šera $9.99 This is a very quick read and should engage girls who live in an urban and Latino setting. Many of the girls in our school will love this story of Estrella and her upcoming Quinceanera. The story takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area where Estrella has just entered a prestigious private school. She is thrilled that she has been accepted and now has a new group of friends. However, with her upcoming party she feels she is being pulled between a group of old friends and her new friends who may not understand the importance of the party from a heritage standpoint and consider it old fashioned. I think it will be very easy for all middle school girls and they will to be able to identify with Estrella and all her "friend" problems. There is a glossary at the end of the book to help those who don't know all the Spanish references. This was a great book to read and share with young girls. My 6th grader read this book faster than any mystery (her previous favorite genre). I was thrilled to see her engaged with girl issues. She was extremely anxious to discuss the book and share her opinions about Estrella's emotional "rollercoaster" ride on the way to her Quinceanera. There are wonderful lessons on culture and ethnic identity to be learned, all with peer pressure. The humor keeps all the topics light, not heavy like a lecture. This will be a very popular addition to our library with our large Latino population. |
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