The coming-of-age narrative is a smart pick for teens looking for books about diversity, but this is a classic that adults can (and should!)
“In English, my name means hope. In Spanish, it means too many letters. It means sadness, it means waiting.” So says 12-year-old Esperanza, whose life in Chicago is told over a series of vignettes that make up The House on Mango Street. This instant classic, which showcases the lives of Mexican Americans, is considered a seminal work for Latin Americans and beyond. The coming-of-age narrative is a smart pick for teens looking for books about diversity, but this is a classic that adults can (and should!) pick up too.