You know that feeling of excitement when you’re really looking forward to something? Anticipating an event is half the fun, but when the day finally arrives, it’s even better.

At the beginning of Esperanza Rising, Esperanza is about to celebrate her thirteenth birthday, but she and her friends are also looking forward to their quinceañeras. On the previous page, you learned what traditionally happens at this celebration as well as some of the symbolism behind each custom. However, your first introduction to quinceañeras may have been a scene in Esperanza Rising.

Reread pages 7 and 8 of Esperanza Rising to refresh your memory about this scene. Then, think about what you learned from the video and how it compares to the novel’s description of quinceañeras.