Cuba 15

It is almost Violet's fifteenth birthday. Turning fifteen isn't a huge deal for everyone, but Violet's Cuban-born grandparents live with her family and in Cuba, turning fifteen means a quinceanero - a party celebrating the transition from girl to woman. Violet is not interested in having a quince. She hates dresses, does not like being the center of attention, and basically thinks its ridiculous to stand up and proclaim her woman-ness to her family and friends.

While her unwanted quince hangs over her head, Violet joins the Speech team at school and uses the antics of her Cuban family as original comedy material while at the same time trying to get her father and grandparents to talk about their life in Cuba, a subject which is hardly ever discussed. Violet's unique personality comes to life in this first-person narrative of a teenage girl who is trying to figure out who she is.

Cuba 15 won the Pura Belpre Honor and is an ALA Best Book for Young Adults