《芒果街上的小屋》 一本优美纯净的小书，一本“诗小说”。由几十个短篇组成，语言清澈如流水，点缀着零落的韵脚和新奇的譬喻，如一首首长歌短调，各自成韵，又彼此钩连，汇聚出一个清晰世界，各样杂沓人生。所有的讲述都归于一个叙述中心：居住在芝加哥拉美移民社区芒果街上的女孩埃斯佩朗莎。生就对弱的同情心和对美的感觉力，她用清澈的眼打量周围的世界，用美丽稚嫩的语言讲述成长、沧桑、生命的美好与不易和年轻的热望与梦想，梦想有一所自己的房子，梦想在写作中追寻自我，获得自由和帮助别人的能力。

　　Our good days 1

If you give me five dollars I will be your friend forever. That's what the little one tells me.

　　Five dollars is cheap since I don't have any friends except Cathy who is only my friend till Tuesday.

　　Five dollars, five dollars.

　　She is trying to get some body to chip in so they can buy a bicycle form this kid named Tito. They already have ten dollars and all they need is five more.

　　Don't talk to them, says Cathy. Can't you see they smell like a broom.

　　But I like them. Their clothes are crooked and old. They are wearing shiny Sunday shoes without socks. It makes their bald ankles all red, but I like them. Especially the big one who laughs with all her teeth. I like her even though she lets the little one do all the talking.

　　Five dollars, the little one says, only five.

　　　　　　　　　　　　
我们的好日子 1

　　如果你给我五块钱，我会永远做你的朋友。那个小的这么对我说

　　五块钱很便宜，因为我没有任何朋友，除了凯茜，她是我星期二之前的朋友。

　　五块钱啊，五块钱。

　　她想找人凑钱，那样，他们可以从那个叫提陀的小孩哪里买一辆自行车。她们已经十块了，他们再添五块钱就够了。

　　只要五块。她说。

　　别喝他们说话。凯茜说，你难道看不出来他们闻起来像扫把？

　　可是我喜欢她们。她们的衣服又皱又旧。她们穿的锃亮的礼拜天的鞋子，却没穿短袜。鞋子把她们的光脚踝擦得红红的。我喜欢她们。尤其是那个大的，小的时候露出一口牙齿。我喜欢她，尽管她让小的出来说话。

　　五块，小的说，只要五块。