The House on Mango Street- Sandra Cisneros

Published in 1984, this coming of age story of a poor Latino girl has been banned and challenged since its publication. The novella’s protagonist, Esperanza Cordero, a teenager growing up amidst the harsh beauty and poverty in the Latino section of Chicago, recounts her difficult time growing up and assimilating. Although a favorite among children and adults alike, its themes of poverty, sexuality, and racism have drawn the ire of parents in Texas, New Mexico, California, etc.