Sweet Fifteen

Hispanic families traditionally mark the transition to womanhood with a special coming out party for a girl’s fifteenth birthday. As Stephanie’s quinceañeraapproaches, however, her household is glum. Her loving but domineering father has recently died. Against Stephanie’s wishes, her mother wants to go ahead with the festivities her father has planned.

It is Rita, the seamstress hired to make Stephanie’s dress, who helps the girl express her grief and make the transition to her new family situation. The sweet fifteen party, rather than remaining an archaic custom for this modern teenager, becomes a psychological process through which Stephanie can cherish and preserve the best of the old while adapting to the new.

Sweet Fifteen explores male and female roles, budding romance, and the place of ritual in families and communities. The story also examines the stress felt by teenagers from traditional families caught up in the complex reality of modern-day life. This appealing tale captures the spirit of the transformation from a child to an adult.