Fifteen Candles: 15 Tales of Taffeta, Hairspray, Drunk Uncles, and other Quinceanera Stories – A Funny and Moving Collection by Latino Writers on Familial Love

by Adriana V. Lopez (Editor)

For the uninitiated, the quinceañera celebrates the passage of a fifteen-year-old girl into adulthood: It's a bit bat mitzvah with a dash of debutante ball, and loaded with the same potential for hilarity and adolescent angst. In this original anthology, fifteen of the brightest and funniest Latino writers, men and women alike, share their own memories of these moving and often absurd extravaganzas—tales of that unique form of familial humiliation that is borne of the best intentions, fierce love, and the infectious joy of parents finally allowing their little girl to grow up.

Genres: Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found most of the stories in this book to be average, although there were a couple that were interesting. Not being a Spanish speaker, I may have been missing some of the more subtle details. Having participated in a Quinceanera, and grown up in a heavily Hispanic community, I thought maybe I'd find more of these stories humorous or relateable. Instead I was disappointed with the content of the majority of the tales. I also think most of the stories would appeal to younger readers, 30 and below. Uusually when I read a book of compilations I enjoy flipping to the back and checking out a favorite author's previous works. Not this time. Not once.

[Paulina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read a few of the stories before for a class in college but this time I read the whole book.

I loved it, it is fifteen stories from different authors and their experiences with quinceañeras, the coming of age party for a 15-year-old Latina. As a Latina, I didn't have a quinceañera, I exchanged it for a trip to Disneyland (which I insist hasn't been fulfilled yet...), so it was interesting to me to see how other Latinas went about having theirs in the US. There are things that change when you go to the US, but certain traditions never will fade, such as the quinceañera.

Something that I found interesting is how quinceañeras don't only affect the girl who is being celebrated, also her parents and her guests. The chambelanes have some really interesting stories about their experiences being the arm that leads her to the dance floor for the dances, their role as "man" when they don't actually have a celebration that symbolises their coming of age.

Something else that I liked is that you get the perspectives from different cultures, Mexican, Cuban, Colombian, Puerto Rican, etc., and it is really interesting to see how they are all the same and different at the same time.

I recommend this to anyone interested in the Latino culture, the cultural transition after immigrating, or anyone who wants to remember their quinceañera party or remember why they didn't have one ;)

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quinceanera parties are like Sweet Sixteen parties for Latinas. A Latina girl has one when she turns fifteen. They are very elaborate, like weddings, and very expensive – with cake, dancing, attendants, etc. The stories are true – from girls who are the quinceanera, boys who are chambalans (attendants to the quinceanera), and girls who are damas (female attendants to the quinceanera). There are quite a variety and all are very interesting.

[Mary Havens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The joy of browsing library shelves!!
I found this gem while weeding other books and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I laughed many times at the absurdity of the situations (drinking = situations!) and also the author's reconciling with their own teenage pasts. We've all been there, cringing at our actions as teens and tweens. These people have it on tape!
Beyond the initial humor lies a deep dive into transitioning from girl to woman and allllll the cultural nuances that goes with that. I loved how each contributor dealt with that issue in their own way, regardless of gender. The "womanhood" issue is forced into the spotlight and that's a lot for a 15 year old to deal with. Shoot, that's a lot for a 39 year old to deal with! It seems like it would be comforting to know that you have your entire family behind you...or it could be a lot of pressure. I felt like each contributor really looked at how they fit into the culture and how they felt about it. Some quinceaneras shined, others folded, some hated it, others didn't.
There was only one story that I didn't really care for because it seemed like it fiction and it felt very flat. The last story is just heartbreaking.
Great collection and a wonderful insight into quince culture!

[k · Rating 4 out of 5]

do you ever find a book you didn't know you were looking for when you are looking for the call number you wrote down? i do this almost everytime. anyhow, let's keep it real, my family has been in the states for four generations now, i'm a more than a little off my roots so a quince was not in the stars, ever. add to that the fact that i've only ever attended one in my life. they say you can go anywhere when you read a book and these fifteen stories definitely took me there. i think my favorite was monica palacios, but i enjoyed all of them and almost wished i had a quince.

[Shana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Last night I breezed through Fifteen Candles, edited by Adriana Lopez. It’s yet another book about quinceañeras, which I tend to enjoy. It was typical for a collection of stories in that there were a few I found boring and a few that were hilarious and touching. It was so so overall, and I wouldn’t recommend it over the other books I’ve read on the same topic.

[Lelah · Rating 4 out of 5]

15 short stories surrounding the event of various Quinceaneras. Not what I expected- this was even better than I thought it would be. The short stories are not fairy tales of a princess birthday party, but more like the reality of life slapping the fairy tale in the face. Great stuff.

[Suede · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't think that all 15 stories would be terrible, but they were. I feel like I should've wasted my time watching MTV's Sweet Sixteen instead of reading this.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Didn't make me want to have a quince though.

[Christina Viramontes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not stand this book, but yet I had to finish reading it for PoP4.

[jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

nonfiction, fifteen, coming of age, compiled essays, compilation, latino, latina

[Sarah]

A great anthology.

[Samanta · Rating 3 out of 5]

El libro no es de lo mejor pero sus relatos pueden sacarte bastantes risas y si tuviste fiesta de quince años hasta te puedes sentir familiarizada.