The House on Mango Street

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Original ISBN 978-0-679-43335-4
A. A. Knopf, 1984
134 pages

Plot Summary: Through short vignettes, teenager Esperanza Cordero talks about her life, hopes, and dreams while growing up as a Latina in an impoverished section of Chicago. The neighborhood provides a sense of animosity and pride for Esperanza.

Critical Evaluation: Cisneros, known for her poetry, has strung 44 vignettes together to weave a narrative through the eyes of Esperanza, a young Latina who is trying to understand who she is and what she will become. The House on Mango Street is not only a Latin tale, but a strong female tale, as well. The text is peppered with Spanish which lends authenticity to the young girl’s voice. The descriptive detail brings the reader to the poor Chicago neighborhood depicted in the story.

Reader’s Annotation: For Esperanza, The House on Mango Street is both a source of joy and heartbreak.

Author Information: Cisneros, born in 1954, is as the first female Mexican-American author to have her work published by a mainstream publisher. Her works have won her the MacArthur Fellowship, two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, and the Before Columbus Foundation’s American Book Award. Even though The House on Mango Street was written nearly 30 years ago, the book is widely read and Cisneros is a well-sought speaker.

Her website can be found at http://www.sandracisneros.com/

Genre: Coming-of-age; Novel in verse

Curriculum Ties: Sections or the entirety of this novel can be used in English Language Arts to illustrate personal narrative.

Booktalking Ideas: I would read the first vignette in the book.

Reading Level / Interest Age: Grades 4 and up

Lexile: 870

Challenge Issues: None

Reason for Item’s Inclusion: The House on Mango Street was chosen as the 2012 selection for One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern. Her work appeals to many students at my school.

References:

Sandra Cisneros. (2012, October 22). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_Cisneros