The House on Mango Street

Do I really need to tell you about this book? Do you really need to know anything more than that this book is about a lovely young Hispanic girl, Esperanza Cordero, who is growing up in a little neighborhood in Chicago? Maybe I might add that it's a book of little stories about her growing-up years and her neighbors and her family? And maybe you will want to know that the writing is beautiful and thoughtful and painful and jubilant?

Anything else? Maybe you should know that this is one of those books that reads like little poems of stories?

I guess I should tell you that I think you must read it. Whoever you are. It's a must-read kind of book. It really is. And it's not long. So go ahead and find a copy and read it. Today, I think.