Quinceanera [Hardcover]

Elizabeth King (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

You are invited to the biggest party of Cindy Chvez's life. In text and gorgeous color photos, Elizabeth King takes us to this joyous, once-in-a-lifetime event--the quinceaera. It is the celebration of a Latina's fifteenth birthday, a coming-of-age ritual in which a community welcomes its newest adult member with a church service, a feast, and dancing. The tradition, which has its roots in Aztec and Mexican custom, is popular in the United States. With a lavish dress, an honor court of friends, a big cake, and a night filled with music, the quinceaera is a chance for a young woman to feel like a queen. But there are solemn, quiet moments, too, particularly at the Mass held before the party. The history, significance, and fun of the quinceaera are warmly recounted in this lovely book. It is an inviting glimpse at a part of American culture for newcomers to the tradition, and a special scrapbook for those anticipating or remembering their own quinceaeras. Also available in Spanish! Quinceaera celebrando los quince

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-9-This title is available in both English and in Spanish. With an informative but at times cloying text, King describes two California quincea?era celebrations from the initial planning stages to the last dances. Accompanied by an interesting mixture of candid and posed full-color photographs, the author details the fiestas of one young woman whose family is originally from El Salvador and another who is of Mexican heritage. The origins of this coming-of-age ritual are explained in an appended note. Mary D. Lankford and Jesse Herrera's Quincea?era (Millbrook, 1994) covers much of the same ground in a shorter, less dramatic, and more readable narrative. However, King's photographs are of a higher quality than Herrera's mostly black-and-white images.
Denise E. Agosto, formerly at Midland County Public Library, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-8. Like a bat mitzvah or a sweet-16 party, the quinceanera is a coming-of-age ritual, and it takes place in the context of a Latina's family and church. Its origins come from Aztec and Mexican customs transmuted through Spanish and Latino celebration. In fulsome prose, King follows and photographs two beautiful young women, Cindy Chavez and Suzi Prieto, as they prepare for turning 15. Cindy's family is from El Salvador and Suzi's from Mexico, so many of their choices for this combination party, religious event, and family festival are different, but both hold the religious part of their ceremony at the historic San Fernando Mission in California. King is careful to describe many variants on a celebration that may include a gorgeous dress, flowers, and a cake; a role for parents, godparents, friends, and classmates; and a special mass to welcome the young woman to adulthood. The photographs are so full of spectacle and genuine warmth that we feel as though we have been invited, too. Girls dreaming of their own coming-of-age parties will find lots to exclaim over. GraceAnne A. DeCandido

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525456384
• ISBN-13: 978-0525456384
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #549,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful in planning an event such as one like this., November 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Quinceanera (Hardcover)

This is a great book. It gives great detail and is very helpful. I would definately recommend this to a friend/relative.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Celebrating "Sweet 15", June 30, 2001

By 

Cheryle Salazar (Vancouver WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quinceanera (Hardcover)

As we were planning my daughter's Quinceanera, we purchased this book to share with my daughter's friends and family members who were not familiar with the latin culture of the Quinceanera. This book shares the Quinceanera of two different girls and how special the Quinceanera really is. This book helped our friends understand why the Quinceanera was important to my daughter and insight into the latin culture