The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Rating: 4/5

Summary:

One of the major characters is Ponyboy Curtis. He is a member of the Greasers, a band of teens. He is targeted by a rival (enemy) gang after leaving the movie theater one day. Ponyboy is rescued after his mates chase the gang away.

Strengths:

When I was a teenager, I hated The Outsiders, and I loved it again just a few months ago. S. E. Hinton developed a compelling and entertaining cast of characters who deal with tension both within and beyond their gang and discover the essence of friendship and family. A tale that is both moving and fun!

Weakness:

Fights, references to child violence, underage alcohol, and smoking are all there. Since the death of a childhood friend, another actor robs a pharmacy and pulls a gun on the cops because he wants to be shot and killed (suicide), which is just what happens.

This is not a novel that should be in the possession of teens. It's gloomy, with many dark themes and undertones.

My Opinion:

This short novel is ideal for ESL students. It has contemporary topics as well as traditional adolescent struggles that people all over the world have faced. There aren't many cultural references in this, so you won't need any context knowledge. The sentences are succinct and easy to comprehend. The language is simple as well. This is a book that you should be able to read without difficulties.