This modern classic is a coming-of-age almost-memoir of a young Latina girl, Esperanza Cordero, who is inventing the woman she will grow up to be. The story unfolds as a series of vignettes—some joyful, some heartbreaking—that draw the reader deep into the Hispanic Chicago neighborhood. Esperanza's observations feel at once highly specific and incredibly universal, as she reflects on growing up on Mango Street, and how she eventually wants to leave.

Every summer, Lala Reyes’ entire extended family drives from Chicago to visit her paternal grandparents in Mexico City. She begins to tell the story of Awful Grandmother's life, starting with the rebozos her family manufactured and the prize design Caramelo, with frequent interjections and corrections from her grandmother. A sprawling multigenerational family story with plenty of lies, secrets, and warmth.