Using a minimalistic style, Cisneros tells this story from the perspective of Esperanza, a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago. It is clear from the series of vignettes that Esperanza lives in a poor neighborhood. Each word has clearly been carefully selected and each paints a powerful picture with creative and unique metaphors which evoke a full array of emotions. To give you a good idea of the style of the book, here is one of my favorite vignettes:
Bums in the Attic
"I want to work on a hill like the ones with the gardens where Papa works. We go on Sundays, Papa's day off. I used to go. I don't anymore. You don't like to go out with us, Papa says. Getting too old? Getting too stuck up says Nenny. I don't tell them I am ashamed--all of us staring out the window like the hungry. I am tired of looking at what we can't have. When we win the lottery . . . Mama begins, and then I stop listening.
"People who live on hills sleep so close to the stars they forget those of us who live too much on earth. They don't look down at all except to be content to live on hills. They have nothing to do with last week's garbage or fear of rats. Night comes. Nothing wakes them but the wind.
"One day I'll own my own house, but I won't forget who I am or where I came from. Passing bums will ask, Can I come in? I'll offer them the attic, ask them to stay, because I know how it is to be without a house.
"Some days after dinner, guests and I will sit in front of a fire. Floorboards will squeak upstairs. The attic grumble.
"Rats? they'll ask.
"Bums, I'll say, and I'll be happy."
