A "phenomenal, indispensable" (USA Today) exploration of the Latina "sweet fifteen" celebration, by the bestselling author of How the García 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.
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Nació en República Dominicana. A la edad de 10 años su familia tuvo que emigrar a Estados Unidos y es en este país donde ha realizado su exitosa carrera literaria. Maestra en creación literaria por la Universidad de Syracuse, ha impartido clases en distintos niveles educativos, desde primaria hasta universidad. Ha publicado tres libros de poesía y dos novelas: En el tiempo de las mariposas y De cómo las hermanas García perdieron su acento, libro con el que obtuvo el PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Award a la excelencia literaria y con el que se ha colocado a la vanguardia de la narrativa dominicana como cronista de los inmigrantes de esa nación caribeña en Estados Unidos. Publica ensayos, poemas y relatos en diferentes revistas como The New York Times Magazine, Allure, The New Yorker, Hispanic Magazine y USA Weekend.