- Rachel Penate
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Updated: Apr 10
TITLE: The House on Mango Street
AUTHOR: Sandra Cisneros
PUBLISHER: Random House
YR PUBLISHED: 1984
STARS: ★★★★★
SUMMARY: “Acclaimed by critics, beloved by readers of all ages, taught everywhere from inner-city grade schools to universities across the country, and translated all over the world, The House on Mango Street is the remarkable story of Esperanza Cordero.
Told in a series of vignettes – sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous–it is the story of a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, inventing for herself who and what she will become. Few other books in our time have touched so many readers.”
REVIEW: The House on Mango Street is EVERYTHING that’s good & right about literature. The End!
Hahaha just kidding…
But, really, I always feel inadequate reviewing classics so beloved by so many. How in the world do you say something that hasn’t already been said? Since I know this will be a book I’ll read over and over again, here is what I loved during this inaugural read through:
★ THE PERSPECTIVE OF CHILDHOOD: I’m so glad Cisneros chose to view Esperanza’s life through the lens of her childhood years. There is a simple refreshing quality to writing from the perspective of youth. Those years are so formative and a lot of what we experience as kids is so honest - an honesty we’ve almost forgotten in adulthood.
★ THE STORY STRUCTURE: Ultimately, what really sold me on this book was the vignettes. Not only did this structure lend itself to speed reading, it allowed me a quick snapshot of each little corner of Esperanza’s community. I truly felt like I took a tour of her life and world and for that, I am now so much better off.
Overall, absolutely worth the read.
SENSITIVITY WARNINGS: Death, & implied physical/sexual abuse.
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*Rating Scale: https://www.bookmamareviews.com/post/how-i-rate-my-books