OSA, Nancy. Cuba 15.OSA 1. OSA - Open Scripting Architecture. 2. OSA - Open System Architecture. , Nancy. Cuba 15. Random House, Delacorte. 277p. c2003. 0-385-73233-3. $7.95. JS * To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, July 2003: Fifteen-year-old Violet Paz is caught between the old world of Cuba and her father's family, and the modern world of her freshman year in high school in Chicago. In Cuba, 15 is a turning point for young women, who celebrate their quinceanero with a grand coming-out party where they are introduced as adults to the community. In Violet's circle of friends, no one has ever had such a celebration, and Violet doesn't want one either. As her abuela and her mother start planning in earnest, including searching for the perfect pink dress and finding ways to solicit party funds and supplies, Violet's initial reluctance turns into curiosity about her heritage and the land her grandparents grandparents npl → abuelos mpl grandparents grand npl → grands-parents mpl grandparents grand npl fled so many years before. She takes a closer look at her family--her grandparent's broken speech, the domino tournaments, Tito Puente Tito Puente, Sr., (April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000 or June 1, 2000 according to IMDb), born Ernesto Antonio Puente, Jr., was an influential Latin jazz and mambo musician. on the stereo--and creates an original comedy performance for competition as part of the school's speech team. As she struggles in her Spanish class, she decides to learn more about Cuba through a research project and even attends a peace rally with her activist best friend Leda, an act that puts her quince quince, shrub or small tree of the Asian genera Chaenomeles and Cydonia of the family Rosaceae (rose family). The common quince (Cydonia oblonga party on the line. Violet's appreciation for her family and their traditions grows as her skit becomes more and more polished. After she meets with Senora Flora, party planner extraordinaire ex·tra·or·di·naire adj. Extraordinary: a jazz singer extraordinaire. [French, from Old French, from Latin extra , Violet realizes that the quince is really a statement about herself, and she decides to make the fiesta her own. The world becomes her stage as Violet embraces both her heritage and her individuality. Readers not only learn about the culture of Cuba The culture of Cuba is a complex mixture of different, often contrasting, factors and influences. Traditionally, Cuba is a meeting point of European, African, Amerindian and continental North American cultures. , but also brush up on their Espanol as Osa skillfully skill·ful adj. 1. Possessing or exercising skill; expert. See Synonyms at proficient. 2. Characterized by, exhibiting, or requiring skill. stitches two worlds together. (An ALA Best Book for YAs.) Michele Winship, Asst. Prof., Capital Univ., Columbus, OH J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. *--The asterisk highlights exceptional books. |
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