The House on Mango Street

Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street. New York: Vintage Books, 1984.

Annotation: In vignettes Esperanza describes her life as Hispanic girl growing up on Mango Street. She discusses her triumphs and struggles with culture, family, friends, neighbors, dreams, and goals.

Book Talk:

“I have begun my own quiet war. Simple. Sure. I am one who leaves the table like a man, without putting back the chair or picking up the plate.”

Is it wrong to sometimes feel ashamed of your home, your culture, and sometimes your family? Do you ever feel that as soon as you get the chance you’re going to own your life and make it something totally different than what your parents have given you? Esperanza does. She holds a love hate relationship with the homes she’s lived in, the neighborhood she’s a part of, and the culture she was brought up in. Even her name bothers her. She dreams of having a “real” home and swears that her life will be different from the one she knows with limited opportunity and male dominance …but in the end can you really shed these parts of your life if they made you who you are?

Awards:

Columbus Foundation's American Book Award, 1985

George G. Stone Center for Children’s Books Recognition of Merit Award, 1994

Image credit: http://teachers.saschina.org