Cuba 15, Nancy Osa
Cuba 15, Nancy Osa
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

Cuba 15

Author: Nancy Osa

Narrator: M.L. Sanchez

Unabridged: 6 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 12/31/2024


Synopsis

Violet Paz has just turned fifteen, a pivotal birthday in the eyes of her Cuban grandmother. Fifteen is the age when a girl enters womanhood, traditionally celebrating the occasion with a quinceañero.

But while Violet is half Cuban, she's also half Polish, and more importantly, she feels 100% American. Except for her zany family's passion for playing dominoes, smoking cigars, and dancing to Latin music, Violet knows little about Cuban culture, nada about quinces, and only tidbits about the history of Cuba.

So when Violet begrudgingly accepts Abuela's plans for a quinceañero—and as she begins to ask questions about her Cuban roots—cultures and feelings collide. The mere mention of Cuba and Fidel Castro elicits her grandparents' sadness and her father's anger. Only Violet's aunt Luz remains open-minded.

With so many divergent views, it's not easy to know what to believe. All Violet knows is that she's got to form her own opinions, even if this jolts her family into unwanted confrontations. After all, a quince girl is supposed to embrace responsibility—and to Violet that includes understanding the Cuban heritage that binds her to a homeland she's never seen.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Casey on July 11, 2010

Violet Paz, the 15 year old narrator of Cuba 15, is finding herself in the middle of preparing for her quinceranero, a traditional party thrown for fifteen year old girls in Latin American countries. The problem? Violet has no interest in celebrating. Wearing a pink dress and a tiara in front of all......more

Goodreads review by Shannon on February 22, 2022

cute story but it was too young for me.......more

Goodreads review by Sylvia on October 14, 2012

Three and a half stars is about right. Terrific story - lots of information about bicultural families, a bit slow in parts. Ages 12-14 is most appropriate for this book but it's a good, solid read for those who enjoy contemporary family and teen stories. The Cuban father and the American mother are......more

Goodreads review by Brenda on March 08, 2019

Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa is a novel about a girl named Violet Paz who has just turned fifteen. Her Cuban family is planning a fifteen party for her. Violet isn’t so much for the party because she doesn’t know much about her Cuban culture. She is full American and doesn’t speak a lot of Spanish but she c......more

Goodreads review by Laura on January 09, 2021

Dnf at 22% I couldn't get into this, I think I have outgrown this story being 26. Also the main character and I don't have much common ground with what little I know about her. The characters aren't memorable and I found the story to be a bit boring.......more