The House on Mango Street

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A Smart Cookie Summary

Last Updated on January 9, 2023, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 60

Esperanza’s mother can speak two languages, sing opera, and fix a television set but cannot navigate the city subway on her own. She tells Esperanza that she could have “been somebody,” but she quit school because she was ashamed of not having nice clothes. She warns Esperanza to study hard and not to make the same mistakes she did.

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