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Amigas #2
Lights, Camera, Quince!
Amigas is officially open for business! Alicia, Jamie, Carmen and Gaz managed to throw an amazing quince for their new friend Sarita. But now that they are sophomores AND in the quince planning business, things are going to get more complicated. Luckily, one of their own is having a quince. Carmen is turning fifteen and the rest of the friends are determined to throw her the best party ever. But in Miami, the heat is always on--and so is the drama. When the group is asked to take part in a reality show featuring quinceanera parties, they all jump at the chance. But being under the spotlight brings out the true colors of the group and before anyone can even cry "action!", Alicia is fighting with Gaz, Carmen is worrying about her vows, and Jamie is feeling left out. With the cameras rolling, will Carmen's party go up in flames?
- GenresRealistic Fiction
208 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2011
5 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Chambers
64 books284 followersVeronica Chambers is a prolific author, best known for her critically acclaimed memoir, Mama’s Girl, which has been course adopted by hundreds of high schools and colleges throughout the country. The New Yorker called Mama’s Girl “a troubling testament to grit and mother love… one of the finest and most evenhanded in the genre in recent years.” Born in Panama and raised in Brooklyn, Ms. Chambers' work often reflects her Afro-Latina heritage.
Her most recent non-fiction book was Kickboxing Geishas: How Japanese Women are Changing their Nation. Her other non-fiction books include The Joy of Doing Things Badly: A Girl’s Guide to Love, Life, and Foolish Bravery. She has also written more than a dozen books for children, most recently Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa and the body confidence Y/A novel, Plus. Her teen series, Amigas, is a collaboration between Chambers, producer Jane Startz, and Jennifer Lopez.
Veronica spent two seasons as an executive story editor for CW’s hit series Girlfriends, and earned a BET Comedy Award for her script work on that series. She has also written and developed projects for Fox and the N.
Veronica has contributed to several anthologies, including the best-selling Bitch in the House, edited by Cathi Hanuaer, and Mommy Wars, edited by Leslie Morgan Steiner.
A graduate of Simon’s Rock College at Bard, she and her husband have endowed three scholarships at the college in the fields of music and literature. She has been the recipient of several awards including the Hodder fellowship for emerging novelists at Princeton University and a National Endowment for the Arts fiction award. She speaks, reads and writes Spanish, but she is truly fluent in Spanglish. She lives with her husband and daughter in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Her most recent non-fiction book was Kickboxing Geishas: How Japanese Women are Changing their Nation. Her other non-fiction books include The Joy of Doing Things Badly: A Girl’s Guide to Love, Life, and Foolish Bravery. She has also written more than a dozen books for children, most recently Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa and the body confidence Y/A novel, Plus. Her teen series, Amigas, is a collaboration between Chambers, producer Jane Startz, and Jennifer Lopez.
Veronica spent two seasons as an executive story editor for CW’s hit series Girlfriends, and earned a BET Comedy Award for her script work on that series. She has also written and developed projects for Fox and the N.
Veronica has contributed to several anthologies, including the best-selling Bitch in the House, edited by Cathi Hanuaer, and Mommy Wars, edited by Leslie Morgan Steiner.
A graduate of Simon’s Rock College at Bard, she and her husband have endowed three scholarships at the college in the fields of music and literature. She has been the recipient of several awards including the Hodder fellowship for emerging novelists at Princeton University and a National Endowment for the Arts fiction award. She speaks, reads and writes Spanish, but she is truly fluent in Spanglish. She lives with her husband and daughter in Hoboken, New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 5, 2010
The story alternates (oftentimes unevenly) between the voices of Alicia, Carmen and Jamie. This bothers me because I think that if the series is going to be called Amigas and refer to Gaz as well, then we should hear Gaz's side of the story. I'm not a big fashion person and it would be nice to hear from someone who works at the Gap (and probably shops there too) instead of Vera Wang, Prada, etc. Also the three Amigas tell the story in a choppy manner. I think since this book is about Carmen, Carmen should have told the majority of the story, interspersed with Alicia and Jamie (and Gaz!). Instead the story is evenly split between Alicia and Carmen with Jamie on the side. I wasn't a fan. Furthermore, the villain is this story is utterly ridiculous. She is one dimensional and it's obvious right away that something fishy is going on. Why the Amigas took so long to realize that, I simply don't understand.
However I really liked the (rather heavy handed) message. I could understand what Carmen was going through as she struggled to reconcile all parts of her heritage and celebrate them at her quinceaneara. It was nice to learn about the Jewish faith. Carmen is not Jewish but she respects Judaism and she does want to learn Hebrew. She regrets not having a bat mitzvah, and her demanding Abuela Ruben doesn't make her feel any better by telling Carmen that she will be punished for all her sins in the next life (because she was raised in the Catholic church and never celebrated her Jewish heritage fully, this is a sin her grandmother's eyes). I could also understand why, no matter how tough the competition got, she stayed in it because her parents couldn't afford to throw her a really expensive quince and the competition took a nice load off their shoulders. With Carmen feeling torn between two cultures, I was better able to appreciate the cultural diversity of the Amigas (and Gaz). Carmen is Mexican American, Jewish and Argentinean. Gaz is Puerto Rican and Jamie is Dominican. I like that the books focus on the similarities between cultures, but I would also love to see the difference between cultures. No Spanish country is completely the same as another and that is rarely portrayed in literature. All in all, I was better able to relate to this story on a personal level. It might very well be different for someone else.
However I really liked the (rather heavy handed) message. I could understand what Carmen was going through as she struggled to reconcile all parts of her heritage and celebrate them at her quinceaneara. It was nice to learn about the Jewish faith. Carmen is not Jewish but she respects Judaism and she does want to learn Hebrew. She regrets not having a bat mitzvah, and her demanding Abuela Ruben doesn't make her feel any better by telling Carmen that she will be punished for all her sins in the next life (because she was raised in the Catholic church and never celebrated her Jewish heritage fully, this is a sin her grandmother's eyes). I could also understand why, no matter how tough the competition got, she stayed in it because her parents couldn't afford to throw her a really expensive quince and the competition took a nice load off their shoulders. With Carmen feeling torn between two cultures, I was better able to appreciate the cultural diversity of the Amigas (and Gaz). Carmen is Mexican American, Jewish and Argentinean. Gaz is Puerto Rican and Jamie is Dominican. I like that the books focus on the similarities between cultures, but I would also love to see the difference between cultures. No Spanish country is completely the same as another and that is rarely portrayed in literature. All in all, I was better able to relate to this story on a personal level. It might very well be different for someone else.
December 2, 2011
Amigas: Lights, Camera, Quince! is a realistic fiction book by Veronica Chambers. In Lights, Camera, Quince! four best friends have spent their summer planning dozens of quinces. Yet now it is time for one of their own quinces Carmen's when she visits her dad on his set she did not expect to end up getting on one of the newest shows project quince. Plus they all did not expect for their competition to be their arch-rival. With the drama setting in will this quince be their biggest bust yet.
I think veronica does a good job when it comes to giving you a visual image of what stuff would look like. Plus when it comes to drama I can't take my eyes of the book. I think this book is for young adults who like drama and surprises.
My favorite character would have to be Alicia also know as Lici she experiences some of the most drama and some of that drama has to do with developing feelings for Gaz one of her best friends.
This is the second of the Amigas stories the first one is Amigas: Fifteen Candles
By: Cassie Fish
I think veronica does a good job when it comes to giving you a visual image of what stuff would look like. Plus when it comes to drama I can't take my eyes of the book. I think this book is for young adults who like drama and surprises.
My favorite character would have to be Alicia also know as Lici she experiences some of the most drama and some of that drama has to do with developing feelings for Gaz one of her best friends.
This is the second of the Amigas stories the first one is Amigas: Fifteen Candles
By: Cassie Fish
April 13, 2013
SUMMARY- This book is about three girls that made a job throwing quinces and a guy helping them and the Amigas Inc. gets involved with a television show were two teams battle to have the best quince and quickly things get out of hand and they also have to battle with their worst enemy at school who is hiding secrets.
CHARACTER TRAIT WITH SUPPORTIVE QUOTE- TRAIT- Carmen is sort of indecisive-" Scratch the hug next time I'd see her I'll give Jamie's butt a kick."
MOST IMPORTANT EVENT- I think the most important event is when Carmen's Quince is going on and her friends and family are giving her a toast that she didn't know about and almost makes her cry.
CHARACTER TRAIT WITH SUPPORTIVE QUOTE- TRAIT- Carmen is sort of indecisive-" Scratch the hug next time I'd see her I'll give Jamie's butt a kick."
MOST IMPORTANT EVENT- I think the most important event is when Carmen's Quince is going on and her friends and family are giving her a toast that she didn't know about and almost makes her cry.
March 29, 2013
There is fun but useless chicklit. then theres plain useless chicklit! this is unfortunately the latter. although since its inspired by jennifer lopez im not surprised. roll eyes. The idea of starring Latin hispanic girls in some sort of reality tv show about party planning business...fell flat. SO flat. EVERYTHING was cliche other than maybe gaz and alicias relationship which was plain ODD. and the whole mean girl aspect fell flatter the plot twist was more of a slight bend.....and overall just no!
August 3, 2011
Just as good as the first book, the TV challenge was really cool I thought it was neat how Carmen mixed tradional things in her family with her style to make her own unique quince. Seeing the girls interact with other charecters at school was really neat.
July 11, 2011
Another cute read.
This one felt a little labored in certain areas but the story still works.
Can't wait for Liana to read these.
This one felt a little labored in certain areas but the story still works.
Can't wait for Liana to read these.
November 19, 2011
Pretty good book. 7th grader said she loved the first one and couldn't wait to read this one so I'll be recommending this one to girls. Very strong girl characters.
October 23, 2012
I LOVE THIXS BOOK ALOT
September 17, 2013
I thought this book was pretty good. It was put together nicely and you could make good visuals reading it.
December 6, 2013
it was about spanish girls preparing for a quince. There was a problem because they weren't very rich. Great realistic fiction book
September 18, 2014
I need the book 3. :( I loved it! :)
July 17, 2022
Fun to read with amazing characters.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews