ParentsPick

Cuba 15 — Content Guide for Parents

By Nancy OsaDelacorte Books for Young ReadersISBN 9780385730211288 pages
Cuba 15

Found in this book

  • Race & cultureCentral
  • Gender rolesSupportingTraditional roles, Challenges traditional roles

Not found

  • Violence
  • Scary content
  • Religion
  • Profanity
  • Climate
  • Sexual content
  • Gender & orientation

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

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Summaries and source quotes for every theme.

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Example theme card

Religion

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

Violet Paz has just turned 15, 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. This is Nancy Osa’s first novel.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Cuba 15 appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    Violet, who is half Cuban and half Polish, learns about her Cuban heritage and her family's history with Cuba and Fidel Castro, and the text includes some Spanish words. The quinceañero marks a girl's step into womanhood, Abuela says women carry tradition forward, Violet and her friends plan a feminist version of the party, and Violet's mom goes back to school with her family's support.

  • Does Cuba 15 have violence?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Cuba 15 have scary content?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Cuba 15 have religion?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Cuba 15 have race & culture?

    Found (Central): Violet, who is half Cuban and half Polish, learns about her Cuban heritage and her family's history with Cuba and Fidel Castro, and the text includes some Spanish words.

  • Does Cuba 15 have profanity?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Cuba 15 have climate?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Cuba 15 have sexual content?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Cuba 15 have gender roles?

    Found (Supporting, Traditional roles, Challenges traditional roles): The quinceañero marks a girl's step into womanhood, Abuela says women carry tradition forward, Violet and her friends plan a feminist version of the party, and Violet's mom goes back to school with her family's support.

  • Does Cuba 15 have gender & orientation?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

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