Critical Insights: The House on Mango Street

June 1, 2011

Gr 9 Up-Covering works that are frequently studied in high school, this strong set is a useful one-stop research tool. The books are divided into three major sections: biographical information, contextual essays, and critical essays. The selection of critical works covers the gamut of readings, from early reactions to Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises to considerations of feminist and lesbian themes in Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street. And unlike Gale's "Novels for Students" and "Short Stories for Students" sets (which these might complement), Salem isn't simply presenting readers with lengthy excerpts from critical works, but with entire essays. Online access to the full text of the set is complementary with print purchase. It should be noted that while the print set will be a welcome addition to reference shelves, the kind of material repackaged here is readily available through Gale's Literature Resource Center and EBSCO's Literary Reference Center.-Herman Sutter, St. Agnes Academy, Houston, TX

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.