{"product_id":"once-upon-a-quinceanera-coming-of-age-in-the-usa-9780452288300","title":"Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA","description":"\u003cb\u003eFinalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, a \"phenomenal, indispensable\" (\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e) exploration of the Latina \"sweet fifteen\" celebration, by the bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eHow the García Girls Lost Their Accents\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eIn the Time of the Butterflies.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe \u003ci\u003equinceañera\u003c\/i\u003e, 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAcclaimed 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJulia Alvarez\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of the novels \u003ci\u003eHow the Garc?a Girls Lost Their Accents, In the Time of the Butterflies\u003c\/i\u003e (a national Book Critics Circle Award finalist), and \u003ci\u003eYo!\u003c\/i\u003e. She has also published two poetry collections (\u003ci\u003eHomecoming\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Other side\/El Otro Lado\u003c\/i\u003e) and a collection of essays (\u003ci\u003eSomething to Declare\u003c\/i\u003e). \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eJulia ?lvarez\u003c\/b\u003e es la autora de \u003ci\u003eDe c?mo las chicas Garc?a perdieron el acento\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eEn el tiempo de las mariposas\u003c\/i\u003e (un finalista del National Book Critics Circle Award) y \u003ci\u003e?Yo!\u003c\/i\u003e. Tambi?n ha publicado dos colecciones de poes?a y una colecci?n de ensayos. Julia ?lvarez vive en Vermont y en Rep?blica Dominicana, donde dirige una cooperativa de caf? org?nico, y un centro de alfabetizaci?n y arte con su esposo.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Penguin Adult Hc\/Tr","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51183677440274,"sku":"9780452288300","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_104c9551-6118-47ab-9056-54b084907cd8.jpg?v=1744476748","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/once-upon-a-quinceanera-coming-of-age-in-the-usa-9780452288300","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}