Sweet Fifteen [Paperback]

Diane Gonzales Bertrand (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1995

A compelling coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of a traditional quinceañera celebration.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up?Rita Navarro wants to help Stefanie Bonillo, who obviously needs a friend, but since she is only the young woman's seamstress, she feels she can't do much. Stefanie's quinceanera (coming-out party) is fast approaching, and the teen is grieving over the death of her father. Rita's opportunity to help comes when Stefanie spends a week with her Uncle Brian over the winter holidays. Rita offers her a job in her shop; soon their friendship blossoms, and Brian becomes interested in Rita. Ethnic values are honestly portrayed in this sincere novel. Rita's character is skillfully sewn as she becomes a pivotal player in each turn of events. Many admirable virtues are woven throughout the chapters?family traditions, respect for one's elders, compassion, and friendship that changes into true love. Although this book is longer and the main character is older than in most stories written for YAs, it does offer positive role models of Hispanic women. An acceptable purchase.?Jana R. Fine, Clearwater Public Library System, FL
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 8^-12. Bertrand's novel is many things: an easy-reading, sweet romance; a story of families as engrossing as a "telenovela" ; an interesting portrait of the day-to-day lives of middle-class Latinos; and a celebration of Latino culture. While sewing the dress for 14-year-old Stefanie Bonilla's quincean{¤}era (a fifteenth-birthday celebration), Rita Navarro becomes increasingly involved with Stefanie's troubled family, falling in love with Stefanie's uncle and befriending her grieving, widowed mother. While helping the family members shatter barriers in their relationships, she matures and learns to recognize her own strengths. Rita is occasionally too sensitive and caring to be true, but the story will engage readers, even reluctant ones, from its beginning to its satisfying end. Chris Sherman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Arte Publico Pr; 2 edition (April 30, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155885133X
• ISBN-13: 978-1558851337
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,310,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Diane Gonzales Bertrand has written stories and poems since childhood, but never saw books that connected to her own Mexican-American heritage. Fifteen years ago she found Arte Publico Press, a Houston publisher who welcomed her familia-friendly adult novels like Sweet Fifteen, Lessons of the Game, and Close to the Heart. Then Diane wrote the children's novel Alicia's Treasure and two award-winning novels for middle school students Trino's Choice, and Trino's Time.
Diane's published picture books Sip, Slurp, Soup, Soup/ Caldo, Caldo, Caldo, Family, Familia, The Last Doll, Uncle Chente's Picnic, and The Empanadas that Abuela Made have all earned "Best Bilingual Book" Latino Literary Awards. Her collection of bilingual short stories, Upside Down and Backwards, earned Honorable Mention in the Paterson Prize for Young Adults. Other titles include Ricardo's Race/La carerra de Ricardo, We are Cousins/Somos Primos, a bilingual novel, The Ruiz Street Kids, winner of a 2009 Skipping Stones Award and a brand new book, The Party for Papa Luis, recently listed as a finalist for the 2010 Tejas Star Book Award. A new novel for teens, The F Factor, is now published. Upcoming titles are Adelita and the Veggie Cousins and Sofia and the Purple Dress.
Her picture books with Raven Tree Press include the award winning, My Pal Victor/mi amigo Victor, and her forthcoming book, The Park Our Town Built.
Diane is Writer-in-Residence at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas. She also loves to visit schools as an author and talk about her books, her family, and the importance of writing down our stories.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Fifteen, June 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sweet Fifteen (Paperback)

This is one of my favorite books! It's a wonderful book about romance and growing up. While the main character is really the dressmaker for Stephanie, the girl who has her quincenara, it explores both Rita and Stephanie's journey into adulthood, and independance. This is definitely worth buying!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so sweet.., August 1, 2001

By 

"saj888" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweet Fifteen (Paperback)

Sweet Fifteen looked very promising. It's about a Hispanic-American girl named Stephanie who is struggling to understand growing up. Her life has changed after her father's death, which we know absolutely nothing about. She is supposed to be the main character, but the author barely ever talks about her. Instead, her dressmaker for her quincenera (sweet fifteen) party, Rita, has the lead role. She owns a small dress shop which is in financial trouble because her partner ran away with the money. Oh, and Rita is in love deeply with Stephanie's uncle after seeing him twice in her life. The plot is boring, there is absolutely no climax. Rita solves Stephanie's problems in the first few pages of the book. I do think that those who like realistic fiction-very realistic fiction-may like this book a bit. [Or], read Camilla by Madeleine L'Engle.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Fifteen!? WHAT!!!??! What happened to Sweet 16?, February 22, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Sweet Fifteen (Library Binding)

Sweet Fifteen, by Diane Betrand is wonderful story of a Hispanic-American girl. In this story, the main character, Stephine, learns how to grow up and deal with the pressure of teen-hood today. She begins to understand who she really is when Rita, the women who is making her dress for her quincenera hires her over winter break as a favor to Stephine's mother.Stephine is truggling because she just lost her very head-strong father and doesn't want to go through with her quincenera. Rita helps Stephine discover what she wants and helps her to learn to live with herself and to respect her culture and be proud of it.The book would complete any young woman's library. This story is directed to girls aged 11-15. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that is struggling to find out who they are and who they can be. Thanks for reading the reveiws BEFORE you by the book. Ifyour thinking about buying, do it, you'll be happy you did. Peace, Love & Chicken feed.