Esperanza- Esperanza is a Mexican-American twelve year old girl who loves to write. Esperanza means "hope" in Spanish.
Rachel and Lucy- Esperanza's best friends. They are Mexican-American sisters who live across the street from Esperanza. Lucy, the oldest, was born in Texas while her little sister Rachel was born in Chicago.
Nenny- Esperanza's little sister. Her real name is Magdalena and Esperanza takes care of her most of the time which leaves Nenny with many chances to embarrass Esperanza in front of her friends.
Marin- Women from Puerto Rico who lives with her cousin's family and baby-sits most of the time. She has a fiance' in Puerto Rico but wants to marry a white man but Marin's cousin's eventually send her back home.
Papa- Esperanza's father. Originally from Mexico. Works most of the time so he's barely ever home.
Mama- Esperanza's mother. Grew up in the United States and is one of the most strong-willed and smartest women in the book.
Alicia- Esperanza's friend who is in college. Does the family chores.
Cathy- Esperanza's first friend in the neighborhood. Moves out a week after Esperanza's family moves in.
Carlos and Kiki- Esperanza's younger brothers. Doesn't appear very often.
Meme Ortiz- New person in Cathy's house. Real name is Juan.
Louie- Lives in the basement of the Ortiz house.
The Vargas Kids- Poorly raised kids who were abandoned by their father.
Uncle Nacho- Esperanza's uncle. Makes her dance at her cousins baptism.
Aunt Lupe- Esperanza's aunt. Used to be a very good swimmer but now she is bedridden. Listens to Esperanza's poems. Esperanza and her friends make fun of her behind her back.
Elenita- Women Esperanza visits to be told her fortune. Tells Esperanza she will have "a home in the heart."
Ruthie- Grown-up who plays with Esperanza. Her mother is the landlady for a large building nearby.
Geraldo- Mexican man Marin meets at a dance. Gets killed in a hit and run and nobody knows anything about him not even his last name.
Sally- Esperanza's friend but shes not a very good friend because she always leaves Esperanza for boys. They are the same age but Sally is a lot more sexually bold.
Mamacita - Moves to America with her husband but hates it and never leaves the apartment, doesn't learn English.
Rafaela - Women in the neighborhood who gets locked in the apartment because her husband is scared she will run away. Esperanza and her friends buy stuff for her.
Minerva - Talks to Esperanza about her problems. Only two years older but has a husband and two kids.
The Three Sisters - Old ladies Esperanza meets at Lucy and Rachel's baby sister's wake. Guess Esperanza's hopes and dreams.
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mangostreet/characters.html
