The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Rating: 4/5

Summary:

Esperanza, a Mexican girl, is the protagonist of this story. The novel is set over the course of a year. Esperanza gets a new apartment on Mango Street. Her new home is far superior to her old one. Her parents have never owned a home before; all of their previous residences have been rented. Esperanza is dissatisfied because she had wished for a different home one that was larger. Their new home is small and old. The house is in a busy Latino neighborhood of Chicago. Esperanza feels she has no time to be alone in her new home. She makes a promise to herself that one day she will be able to leave and live on her own. Throughout the novel, the young girl matures significantly. The plot follows her as she meets new people, her body changes, and she develops feelings for a boy. She has many adventures with her new friends. Esperanza is embarrassed about her family's poverty when she returns to school after her vacation. To make herself feel better, she writes poetry in secret. Other women in the community receive a lot of attention, and Esperanza hopes to never be like them. She realizes she wants to leave after observing the older women and how they are trapped.

Strengths:

The storytelling is one of the most powerful aspects of the House on Mango Street. The story is told in a series of vignettes rather than chapters. Consider a vignette to be a verbal snapshot of a particular point in time. It's like a story and a poem rolled into one, thanks to the rich sensory detail and Esperanza's narration.

Weaknesses:

There are numerous other characters in addition to Esperanza. It's difficult to take in Esperanza and everyone else she sees all at once because you only see things through her eyes. Regardless, The House on Mango Street is a fantastic book.

My Opinion:

Sandra Cisneros follows through on Esperanza's promise. Although the story is not autobiographical, it does reflect her childhood culture. But I can't help but believe that Cisneros' promise comes straight from his heart.