Synopsis
Whether living in a small community or a bustling city, Spanish teenagers enjoy a culture rich in flavorful foods and fiestas. Teenagers often spend their evenings walking outdoors, hanging out with their family and friends. Spanish teens are helping preserve traditions such as bull-fighting, while also celebrating modern trends in music and technology. Teens in Spain is part of Global Connections, a series that uncovers the challenges, pastimes, and customs of teens around the world.
Children's Literature
Teens make up only a minority of the country s population, but they are a key part of the country s future. They attend school, some opting for college, others for a technical education. It was not until 1970 that Spanish children had to be enrolled in school. Most students move from grade to grade, but more than 26% of all 14-year-olds repeat a grade. The school day ends about 4:00. After school activities include futbol (soccer), basketball or chess. The teens have chores to do at home before going to the public square to hang out with friends. Sometimes dinner comes after 9 p.m. Ninety percent of teens continue to live at home while attending a university close by. One-third of the country s population live in the country where life has not changed much. People in Spain continue to observe a siesta after lunch. Some shops close for a few hours in the afternoon. The citizens enjoy many fiestas of faith and tradition. Spain became a part of the European Union in 1986, and the economy has made gains in the past decades. Bullfighting is considered an art, and there are about 500 permanent bullfighting rings in Spain. With beautiful photographs, this picture book is ideal for students writing a report on Spain. A historical timeline, a glossary, a bibliography, and index offer further study. Reviewer: JoAn Watson Martin