Estrella's Quinceanera

This is a very quick read and should engage girls who live in an urban and Latino setting. Many of the girls in our school will love this story of Estrella and her upcoming Quinceanera. The story takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area where Estrella has just entered a prestigious private school. She is thrilled that she has been accepted and now has a new group of friends. However, with her upcoming party she feels she is being pulled between a group of old friends and her new friends who may not understand the importance of the party from a heritage standpoint and consider it old fashioned. I think it will be very easy for all middle school girls and they will to be able to identify with Estrella and all her "friend" problems. There is a glossary at the end of the book to help those who don't know all the Spanish references. This was a great book to read and share with young girls. My 6th grader read this book faster than any mystery (her previous favorite genre). I was thrilled to see her engaged with girl issues. She was extremely anxious to discuss the book and share her opinions about Estrella's emotional "rollercoaster" ride on the way to her Quinceanera. There are wonderful lessons on culture and ethnic identity to be learned, all with peer pressure. The humor keeps all the topics light, not heavy like a lecture. This will be a very popular addition to our library with our large Latino population.

My 4th grade students loved this book. They were also lucky to have met Malin Alegria the author and loved listening to her read from Estrella's Quinceanera. It is a funny and enjoyable book for children as they can relate to the main character. A must read book!

This is truly a page turner...my kids love'd it and read it in one day...'fur real! Now only if they can make school text books as a fun...humm, now there's a thought... Keep reading - readers are leaders!! "Big Dave" Burleigh.