The House on Mango Street - Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street is a series of short tales written from the point of view of Esperanza Cordero, a young Latino girl growing up in the 1970's Chicago ghetto. Esperanza, who is acutely aware that she is living in the less-desired Hispanic section of the city where houses are run-down and life is hard, dreams of living on a hill where the houses are beautiful and life is easy. Esperanza struggles with her connection to her culture, her place as a girl/woman, and her love for her family, but is at the same time compelled to search for more, to do better, to be more.

Acclaimed by critics and readers alike, this book is considered a classic as it explores themes of cultural traditions, gender roles, and a young girl's coming-of-age in a world that struggles to hang onto its collective past while integrating itself into the ever-changing American landscape. 

This was a lovely children's book. The writing is poetic, though not in verse, and invokes powerful images of this young girl's world. Though I see the importance of the quality of this writing, because the book lacks a plot, I was bored. But, I suppose, for a younger reader...one for whom you might be trying to develop interest in reading, this is likely the perfect book.

3/5- Good. Read it, have a good time and move on. Or not.