Estrella's Quinceanera Book

For as long as Estrella Alvarez can remember, her mother has been planning to throw her an elaborate quinceañera for her fifteenth birthday — complete with a mariachi band, cheesy decorations, and a hideous dress. Just thinking about her quince makes Estrella cringe. But her mother insists that it's tradition.

Estrella has other things on her mind, anyway — like dating Speedy. Does it matter that her new friends — and her parents — would never approve of a guy from el barrio? Estrella's almost fifteen and wants to start making her own decisions. But is she ready to find out who she is — and who she really wants to be?

KLIATT

Estrella's mother can hardly contain her excitement about her daughter's upcoming 15th birthday. She will have a lavish quinceanera (or quince, a traditional party in Mexican culture to celebrate a girl entering womanhood) for Estrella. The only problem is that Estrella could not be less enthused about the idea. Now that she attends a fancy private school (on scholarship), she views her culture through different eyes. A quince suddenly seems tacky, and her family too embarrassing for words. She reluctantly allows her mother to plan a small party, but is sure to keep it a secret from her new friends. Estrella surprises herself when she falls for Speedy, a boy from her neighborhood. She chooses to keep her relationship with him a secret, too. Her parents won't allow her to date until she is 16 and surely would take one look at Speedy and judge him because he looks like a cholo, or thug. As Estrella gets to know Speedy, she also begins to understand herself. With the help of Speedy and her Tia Lucky, Estrella learns about the importance of family, community, and culture. Alegria infuses the plot with lots of energy and emotion. Estrella's struggle to fit into two different cultures is thoughtful and touching. Her colorful family and friends, who we get to know as Estrella reaches out to them in the planning of her quince, help round out the story. Though the book may attract a wide Hispanic audience, it also has great general appeal, as Estrella's quest to find her own identity is to which something most teens can relate.