Celebrating Sandra Cisneros
In honor of Martita, I Remember You (Martita, te recuerdo) Sandra Cisneros’s first work of fiction in more than nine years, we’re looking back on her amazing contribution to the world of letters. In 1984, she broke onto the literary scene with her pioneering novel The House on Mango Street, and ever since she has been a key figure in literature, receiving international acclaim and numerous awards for her fiction and poetry. Her works explore questions of cultural identity and economic inequality and abound in spirited, memorable characters, all spun into a fusion of English and Spanish that’s become her trademark style. All her novels, short stories, and poems are worthy of book club discussion. Read in English or Spanish and use our reader’s guides to help steer the conversation. Enjoy!
The House on Mango Street (1984)
(La Casa En Mango Street)
Acclaimed by critics, beloved by readers of all ages, taught everywhere from grade schools to universities across the country, and translated into many languages, The House on Mango Street is the remarkable story of a young girl, Esperanza Cordero, growing up in a Chicago barrio. Through a series of vignettes—sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous—we become privy to the inner world of the young Latina as she invents for herself who and what she will become.
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Martita, I Remember You (2021)
(Martita, te recuerdo)
Sandra Cisneros’s return to fiction is a breathtaking tribute to the life-changing power of youthful friendship. In this beautiful dual-language edition, a long-forgotten letter sets off a charged encounter with the past. Told with intimacy and searing tenderness, this poignant and gorgeously told story is Cisneros at her vintage best.
A House of My Own (2016)(Una casa propia)
A House of My Own is a jigsaw autobiography, made up of essays and images spanning three decades-—and including never-before-published work. The winner of the PEN Center USA Literary Award for Creative Nonfiction, this deeply personal memoir is an exuberant celebration of a life lived to the fullest, from one of our most beloved writers.
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My Wicked Ways (2015)This later novel is a sprawling epic of family life, Mexican history, the immigrant experience, and a young Mexican American woman’s road to adulthood. At the center is Ceyala “Lala” Reyes, whose family—aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, and Lala’s six older brothers—drive from Chicago to the Little Grandfather and Awful Grandmother’s house in Mexico City for the summer. Struggling to find a voice above the boom of her brothers and to understand her place on this side of the border and that, Lala is a shrewd observer of family life. But when she starts telling the Awful Grandmother’s life story, seeking clues to how she got to be so awful, grandmother accuses Lala of exaggerating. Soon, a multigenerational family narrative turns into a whirlwind exploration of storytelling, lies, and life.
Have You Seen Marie? (2013)(¿Has visto a María?)
Collaborating with visual artist Ester Hernández whose colorful drawings adorn the pages of the book, Cisneros has crafted a touching and richly illustrated fable for adults. Have You Seen Marie? tells the story of a woman’s search, in the wake of her mother’s death, for a missing cat—and offers a reminder that love, even when it goes astray, does not stay lost forever.
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Caramelo (2003)(Caramelo)
This national bestselling novel is a sprawling epic of family life, Mexican history, the immigrant experience, and a young Mexican American woman’s road to adulthood. At the center is Ceyala “Lala” Reyes, whose family—aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, and Lala’s six older brothers—drive from Chicago to the Little Grandfather and Awful Grandmother’s house in Mexico City for the summer. Struggling to find a voice above the boom of her brothers and to understand her place on this side of the border and that, Lala is a shrewd observer of family life. But when she starts telling the Awful Grandmother’s life story, seeking clues to how she got to be so awful, Grandmother accuses Lala of exaggerating. Soon, a multigenerational family narrative turns into a whirlwind exploration of storytelling, lies, and life.
Buy the Book |Get the reader’s guide | Read it in Spanish
Loose Woman (1995)In addition to her wonderful contributions to the world of fiction, Sandra Cisneros is a masterful poet, and her acclaimed collection, Loose Woman is a must-read. This candid, sexy, and wonderfully mood-strewn collection of poetry celebrates the female aspects of love, from the reflective to the overtly erotic.
Woman Hollering Creek (1992)(El arroyo de la Llorona y otros cuentos)
When diving into Sandra’s rich opus of works, be sure not to miss her stunning collection of stories, Woman Hollering Creek. The lovingly drawn characters of these tales give voice to the vibrant and varied life on both sides of the Mexican border with tales of pure discovery, filled with moments of infinite and intimate wisdom.
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Vintage Cisneros (2004)If you are new to Sandra Cisneros and are looking for the perfect introduction to her work overall, check out Vintage Cisneros. This accessible paperback features an excerpt from her bestselling novel The House on Mango Street, a chapter from her novel Caramelo; a generous selection of poems from My Wicked Wicked Ways and Loose Woman; and seven stories from her award-winning collection, Woman Hollering Creek.