Sweet Fifteen
...dAUTHOR: Diana Gonzales Bertrand writes fiction, poetry and essays. Her works have been included in both religious publications and literary journals. Three romance novels have been published by Avalon Books. Gonzales Betrand teaches creative writing and composition at St. Mary's College in San Antonio, Texas, where she lives with her husband and two children. NOTES: Preparations for the traditional quinceanera celebration marking young Stephanie's fifteenth birthday serve as the backdrop for a traditional, Mexican-American family struggling with the problems of breaching the gap between male and female, young and old. The unexpected death of Stephanie's father, a loving but domineering and influential man who ran his business and his family with an equally firm hand, has cast a shadow over Stephanie's quinceanera party, which is supposed to mark her transition to womanhood. Rita, the young seamstress charged with designing Stephanie's gown, detects the girl's reluctance to go through with what she considers an outmoded tradition. Her efforts to convince Stephanie's Uncle Brian that the girl needs a compassionate friend more than a dress lead to a budding romance between the two. The intriguing plot built around Rita and Brian's romance, Stephanie's growing appreciation for the traditions and values of her culture and the interesting details of everyday life among middle-class U.S. Hispanics will hold the attention of high school readers regardless of their ethnic backgroundAUTHOR: Diana Gonzales Bertrand writes fiction, poetry and essays. Her works have been included in both religious publications and literary journals. Three romance novels have been published by Avalon Books. Gonzales Betrand teaches creative writing and composition at St. Mary's College in San Antonio, Texas, where she lives with her husband and two children. NOTES: Preparations for the traditional quinceanera celebration marking young Stephanie's fifteenth birthday serve as the backdrop for a traditional, Mexican-American family struggling with the problems of breaching the gap between male and female, young and old. The unexpected death of Stephanie's father, a loving but domineering and influential man who ran his business and his family with an equally firm hand, has cast a shadow over Stephanie's quinceanera party, which is supposed to mark her transition to womanhood. Rita, the young seamstress charged with designing Stephanie's gown, detects the girl's reluctance to go through with what she considers an outmoded tradition. Her efforts to convince Stephanie's Uncle Brian that the girl needs a compassionate friend more than a dress lead to a budding romance between the two. The intriguing plot built around Rita and Brian's romance, Stephanie's growing appreciation for the traditions and values of her culture and the interesting details of everyday life among middle-class U.S. Hispanics will hold the attention of high school readers regardless of their ethnic backgroun...