We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(1) Sea Level
"Eleven" is told from the point of view of eleven-year-old Rachel, and as you'd expect from an eleven-year-old, this means the text is very simple to read. Except it isn't that easy. Even though it is. Confused? Let us explain.
The writing style of "Eleven" is super poetic but also super reader friendly. Since we view the world from Rachel's perspective, the sentence structure doesn't get overly complex and the word choice is typical young adult fair. Consider this pitch-perfect example:
"It's an ugly sweater with red plastic buttons and a collar and sleeves all stretched out like you could use it for a jump rope" (8).
See what we mean? As far as descriptions go, this language is pretty darn straightforward. If you are eleven years old or older, then consider yourself old enough to ride this ride.
But just because it's a simple read doesn't mean it's a "simple" read, if you catch our drift. Beneath the accessible writing style, Cisneros is dealing with some seriously complex issues, including alienation, coming of age, and social-gender constraints. So while you'll instantly pick up what's happening in the story's plot, it'll take a bit more thought and consideration to truly grasp the themes brewing beneath the surface. But if you ask us, that's what makes Cisneros's short story so much fun to read and talk about.