The House on Mango Street is written in a series of vignettes and tells the coming of age story of Esperanza Cordero. Esperanza is an adolescent Chicana girl who moves with her three siblings and their parents into a house on Mango Street, located in an underserved Chicago neighborhood at a time when sexism and racism are prevalent challenges. It is the first house her family has owned, but it is not the house of Esperanza’s dreams. She dreams of a house where she has her own space and privacy, in a neighborhood that is not looked down upon. What Esperanza comes to realize is that her experiences on Mango Street as well as her experiences prior to living on Mango Street help to shape her identity, the person she is and the person she will become. Although Esperanze may leave Mango Street, Mango Street will always be a part of her.

Big Ideas:

• Home can be a physical place but also a symbol of belonging, independence and empowerment

• Life experiences can be challenging; they shape us and give us choices for our future

• Sexism and racism play a role in how society defines us and how we choose to define ourselves

• Our identity is shaped by families, culture, friends and communities but ultimately lies within ourselves

• People and cultures all have stereotypes

• Sexism and Racism create oppression