written by Sandra Cisneros, Book 2, 2021
“Friends and neighbors will say, What happened to that Esperanza? Where did she go with all those books and paper? Why did she march so far away? They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out.”
Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street
I am glad I finally got around to reading this. I feel like it was one of the few books I didn’t read in elementary and middle school. I picked this up in both Spanish and English and read each tiny chapter in Spanish and then in English to check my understanding. I was able to get the general idea even with my limited Spanish language skills and I really enjoyed the mini stories within the greater narrative. Esperanza is an easy to love narrator and I liked the gentle rollercoaster of adolescent problems in comparison to the current state of the world. Ultimately, what I’m most impressed by is the beauty in the simplicity of the writing. It’s widely read for a good reason, if you haven’t already read it, you may want to.
Recommended for: I’d recommend this to any middle school or late elementary school kids in my life. I’d recommend it to other folks looking for something accessible to read when practicing Spanish.
Actions I will take in response to this book:
- This story made me think about what we owe to our communities of origin. As an adult who lives in the same city I was born in, I alternate between wanting to move somewhere that is more aligned with my current values (a progressive city) and my desire to stay here and enact the changes that will make this place better for those who are growing up here now.
- I’ll continue to work on local projects that encourage safe, healthy, and inclusivity in my community (not just for those who fit the mold, but especially for those who don’t).
Content Warnings: Drugs, Incarceration, Abuse