SWEET 15

Fourteen-year-old Destiny Lozada sees her world turning upside down when her parents force her to celebrate her 15th birthday with a lavish Puerto Rican–style quinceañera party. Destiny does not want to disappoint her parents; she is proud of her Latinidad, but she is not sure that she wants to switch her skateboard for high heels or her jeans for a fancy, uncomfortable dress. Destiny is growing and changing, but she cannot picture herself attending a religious ceremony or having a caballero, a court and chambelanes. Will she give up her own dreams to please her parents? Or will she stand by her sister’s side and refuse to be part of the traditional celebration? Destiny’s resolution, the engaging dialogue, boys, gossip, best friends, fashion, texting, the first kiss and the city of New York all play a part in this charming, fresh and funny coming-of-age novel that will entertain teen readers, especially girls. (Fiction. 12 & up)