The House on Mango Street
The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, tells the story of a young Hispanic girl named Esperanza who dreams of someday living in her own house. Her parents have moved their family from apartment to apartment, and still dream of having a permanent home somewhere. But for now, the family is living on Mango Street.
Esperanza deals with racial prejudice, a friend whose father abuses her, the realities of becoming a woman, women in her community being treated as lesser than the men, and trying find someone to trust with her poetry.
The book captures snapshots of Esperanza's interactions with her neighbors and family. Each chapter tells about an aspect of her life on Mango street and previous experiences. Though the book does not follow a strictly chronological pattern, Esperanza's character develops as she realizes that she wants more for herself than what society has planned for and expects of her.