The House on Mango Street
by Sandra Cisneros
The House on Mango Street is a 1984 novel by Mexican-American author Sandra Cisneros. Structured as a series of vignettes, it tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, a 12-year-old Chicana girl growing up in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago. Based in part on Cisneros's own experience, the novel follows Esperanza over the span of one year in her life, as she enters adolescence and begins to face the realities of life as a young woman in a poor and patriarchal community. Elements of the Mexican-American culture and themes of social class, race, sexuality, identity, and gender are interwoven throughout the novel.
The House on Mango Street is considered a modern classic of Chicano literature and has sold more than 6 million copies. It has been translated into over 20 languages, and is required reading in many schools and universities across the United States. It was on The New York Times Best Seller list and is the recipient of several major literary awards, including the American Book Award.
About Sandra Cisneros
"Recognizing Ourselves," Interview with Sandra Cisneros (American Artscape Magazine, 2016, Issue 1)
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