Book in a nutshell: In this social commentary/quasi-memoir, Alvarez (How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, In the Time of Butterflies) explores the Latino tradition of the quinceañera, which "celebrates a girl's passage into womanhood with an elaborate, ritualized fiesta on her 15th birthday."

Alvarez shares her own coming-of-age stories while lamenting the current state of Latina girls and quinceañeras in general. With the average quinceanera costing $5,000 and taking on the feel of a Disney fairy tale, Alvarez shares her skepticism. "The incredible expense; a girl encouraged in the dubious fantasy of being a princess as if news of feminism had never reached her mami; the marketing of a young lady as attractive, marriageable goods. Why not save the money for education?" she ponders.

Then there's the "sad state of Hispanic girls," as she calls it. Quoting the National Coalition of Hispanic Health and Human Service Organizations, she notes that "young Latinas topped the charts in rates of teen pregnancy, suicide attempts, school dropouts, and substance abuse."

"What on earth is there to celebrate?" she asks. "Why are these girls having quinceañeras?"

Best tidbit: Quinceañeras are no longer the sole domain of Latina girls. As a club owner who was hosting a quinceañera explains to Alvarez, "'The Spanish people are the trendsetters for these kinds of parties. The white people pick it up.' And not just the party, but everything," Alvarez writes. "... The Latinizing of American culture is alive and well."

Pros: For anyone not familiar with quinceañeras and the Latino heritage, this is an enlightening read. Alvarez's folksy, easygoing storytelling is an added perk.

Cons: At times, as Alvarez takes her own walk down memory lane while sharing personal stories, the subject of quinceañeras gets lost in the mix.

Final word: In a region with such a large Latino population, Once Upon a Quinceañera is an intriguing read for anyone in the area interested in learning more about the culture around them.

Once Upon a Quinceañera: Coming of Age in the USA

• Nonfiction. By Julia Alvarez. Viking, $23.95.Grade: B