Cuba 15

Rating:
Summary: A Chicago Cuban-American Story
Review: I am a Miami Cuban and of course,we think we are the only "real" Cubans in the United States. I was intrigued about Chicago Cubans and so I added this book to my Cuban book collection. I was pleasantly surprised that we all have the same neurosis, whether we live in Miami or in Chicago (why would a Cuban want to live in such cold weather is beyond me). I highly recommend this book, along with a Cuban fun bilingual picturebook set in Little Havana for younger children titled, Drum, Chavi, Drum!/Toca, Chavi, Toca! I am happy to see so many excellent Cuban books in the market written by Cubans and illustrated by Cubans.

Rating:
Summary: A story written para mi.
Review: Myself being half cuban and half american, and not be able to speak a lick of spanish, I feel as if this book was written just for me. I can relate to the fact that Violet feels like she is being forced to have an elaborate party called a qinceañero by will of her abuela. My own abuela happened to "convince" me to have one also just this past month. It was amazing to recieve this book as a present from one of my friends, as it shows all of the problems and stress that can go into planning this coming of age event. Anyone who is interested in Cuban culture or a quinceañero will be delighted by this book.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic First Novel
Review: Violet has just turned 15, the age when a young Cuban woman traditionally celebrates with a party. But Violet is only half Cuban: she's also half Polish and feels all-American. Her rejection of her Cuban culture changes when she grudgingly accepts the idea for a Cuban celebration of her age - and she begins to learn about the politics and sadness in her background in this revealing and original "coming of age" story.

Rating:
Summary: CUBA 15 is a well-written novel about growing up.
Review: Violet Paz knows little about her half-Cuban, half-Polish heritage. She simply feels American. So when her Cuban grandmother insists that she have the traditional Quinceanera (the celebration of Violet's 15th birthday), she is reluctant. Will she have to wear an awful ruffled dress and be put on the market for marriage? She finds that quince is instead about tradition, family and self-discovery.

CUBA 15 is a wonderful book filled with humor. Armed with "The Dummies Guide to Quinceanera," Violet learns that she can have a theater theme for her special day, a subject that's very important to her. She does not have to employ all of the old traditions, but she does use enough of them to create a magical mix of cultures with old and new traditions.

While preparing for the big event, Violet studies and writes about her family in an attempt to understand them. Her family's marathon domino games become the subject for a comedy sketch she performs for competition. She secretly participates in a rally for Cuba, inspiring great anger and division in her family, who lived among the political strife there. She also finds her first boyfriend and discovers again how valuable her two best friends are to her.

The actual event is anticlimactic but fun. CUBA 15 is a well-written novel about the journey of growing up.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio


Rating:
Summary: What a difference a year makes
Review: Violet Paz's family does not understand her, which is hard enough when you are 15, but even worse, SHE doesn't understand THEM. Her Cuban father and Polish mother maintain a lively, loud household where dominos rule, extended family members feel free to meddle into everyone's business and large parties are annual events. When Violet's grandmother insists that Violet have a quinceanero (a 15th birthday celebration announcing her arrival to womanhood), Violet does not see how such a tradition fits into her suburban Chicago life. After all, her father refuses to speak of his life in Cuba and Violet barely speaks the Spanish her parents and grandparent use so easily. Plus, Violet and her girlfriends are much more interested in boys and school than in some archaic Cuban rite of passage. But planning the party is just one of Violet's concerns this year; she also has to come up with an original comedy piece for the Speech competition. As Violet's creativity and poise develop, she learns to better appreciate and understand her loving-if loco-family, and her Cuban heritage. Violet and her friends are lively, well-developed female characters, and this book will be of most interest to teenage girls. But it humorously and touchingly reveals the dynamics of a multi-generational and multi-cultural family, making it a good read for everyone.

Rating:
Summary: What a difference a year makes
Review: Violet Paz's family does not understand her, which is hard enough when you are 15, but even worse, SHE doesn't understand THEM. Her Cuban father and Polish mother maintain a lively, loud household where dominos rule, extended family members feel free to meddle into everyone's business and large parties are annual events. When Violet's grandmother insists that Violet have a quinceanero (a 15th birthday celebration announcing her arrival to womanhood), Violet does not see how such a tradition fits into her suburban Chicago life. After all, her father refuses to speak of his life in Cuba and Violet barely speaks the Spanish her parents and grandparent use so easily. Plus, Violet and her girlfriends are much more interested in boys and school than in some archaic Cuban rite of passage. But planning the party is just one of Violet's concerns this year; she also has to come up with an original comedy piece for the Speech competition. As Violet's creativity and poise develop, she learns to better appreciate and understand her loving-if loco-family, and her Cuban heritage. Violet and her friends are lively, well-developed female characters, and this book will be of most interest to teenage girls. But it humorously and touchingly reveals the dynamics of a multi-generational and multi-cultural family, making it a good read for everyone.