Once Upon a Quinceañera (Book Review)

Once Upon a Quinceañera

By: Julia Alvarez

* One star out of Five

Once Upon a Quinceañera, was an interesting and informing book. It bascically told the tail of how quinceañeras are and how to have the right type of one.

This book is about Julia Alvarez and how she is making a book about quinceañeras. A quinceañera is like a sweet 16, but it`s for hispanics, or really just anyone who wants to have one. Also, a quinceañera is for a 15 year old (girl), not 16. There is a ceromony before the big party. The ceromony is basically like a girl turing into a women (Women hood.) This book talked about how girls plan quinceañeras, how hispanic girls act about them, and basically how they are planned. Julia Alvarez also talks a little bit about what happened in her life. How she got married and how she is writing her book about quinceañeras.

I gave this book one star for serveral reasons. First, I thought it was kind of boring. It was interesting to learn about quinceañeras, but, it really talked about the same thing, and it didn`t interest me. Second, I could never understand who was talking and who the characters were. It just sort of had them talking and it didn`t even explain who these people were. It was very confusing. Although I never really understood who was talking, I really liked Julia Alvarez in this book. She put her self in it, and told some of her story. I thought it was very creative and I really liked the quotes she said in this story. One quote that she said that I liked the best was: ”I lay down on that cut grass, looking up at the sky, feeling desolate, lost. Where did I belong?” (Page 50). This quote really caught my attention and it seemed like something I think about a lot.

Even though I didn`t like this book very much, I would still recommed this book. I`d recommed this book for girls only. Since quinceañeras are only for girls, I don`t think boys would be interested by girls ”wanting to be queens for their quinceañera" type of book. Also, I would recommed this book for girls 14 and up. Since you have your quinceañera when you're 15, it would be key to study about quinceañera a year before it happens. That way, you'll be informed and you'll know what to do for your quinceañera!

All in all, even though this book was boring to me, I think it sends a message. A message to 15 year old girls saying: Get ready for life, be aware, and have a great quinceañera. If you like books about parties, a girl becoming into a women by having a quinceañera, and you just love quinceañeras, this is the book for you!