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bookishevy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
If you love YA reads, this one is for you.
To Julia's mother, she is not the perfect Mexican daughter. She doesn't like learning how to cook and has no intentions of having children. The opposite of her older sister Olga, bookish Julia can't wait to leave home for college in NYC and become a writer.
When Olga dies in a tragic accident on the busiest street in Chicago, Julia is left to pick up the pieces of her family. Julia's parents don't see that she is also broken. Instead of consoling Julia, her Ama copes with her grief by pointing out all the ways Julia is not like Olga, exacerbating Julia's own grief.
When Julia finds clues that point to Olga leading a double life, she's determined to find out who Olga was texting before the accident.
Sanchez shows the struggle immigrant parents face with instilling their cultural values into their first-generation American children. Olga is the standard that Julia is held up to. Julia is regularly punished for daring to want a life outside their home. Meanwhile, Olga had a secret life that would have scandalized their parents.
Some Goodreads reviewers hate Julia, but I like her. She's a typical angsty teen, but she's also coping with a loss. Yes, she's irritable and combative, but that's how depression manifests in some people. Her sister is dead, Ama is like a warden, she lives in poverty and is surrounded by gang violence. She wants out, and she feels hopeless and alone.
Her parents feel like they're not enough. I agree. Julia's intelligent but judgemental of her parents' culture because they're so conservative. She needs to show them some grace. They're only projecting their anxieties about the world onto her because of what they endured while crossing the border. But they must learn that suffocating Julia is doing more harm than good.
Finding out the truth about Olga's secret life doesn't help Julia relate to her sister any better. Olga was still oppressed and not putting herself first. Julia is determined to get an education and find her own identity.
To Julia's mother, she is not the perfect Mexican daughter. She doesn't like learning how to cook and has no intentions of having children. The opposite of her older sister Olga, bookish Julia can't wait to leave home for college in NYC and become a writer.
When Olga dies in a tragic accident on the busiest street in Chicago, Julia is left to pick up the pieces of her family. Julia's parents don't see that she is also broken. Instead of consoling Julia, her Ama copes with her grief by pointing out all the ways Julia is not like Olga, exacerbating Julia's own grief.
When Julia finds clues that point to Olga leading a double life, she's determined to find out who Olga was texting before the accident.
Sanchez shows the struggle immigrant parents face with instilling their cultural values into their first-generation American children. Olga is the standard that Julia is held up to. Julia is regularly punished for daring to want a life outside their home. Meanwhile, Olga had a secret life that would have scandalized their parents.
Some Goodreads reviewers hate Julia, but I like her. She's a typical angsty teen, but she's also coping with a loss. Yes, she's irritable and combative, but that's how depression manifests in some people. Her sister is dead, Ama is like a warden, she lives in poverty and is surrounded by gang violence. She wants out, and she feels hopeless and alone.
Her parents feel like they're not enough. I agree. Julia's intelligent but judgemental of her parents' culture because they're so conservative. She needs to show them some grace. They're only projecting their anxieties about the world onto her because of what they endured while crossing the border. But they must learn that suffocating Julia is doing more harm than good.
Finding out the truth about Olga's secret life doesn't help Julia relate to her sister any better. Olga was still oppressed and not putting herself first. Julia is determined to get an education and find her own identity.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Child abuse and Mental illness
_ren's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Sexual harassment
magnolia_foster's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Outing
I cried because I related so hard to this book I am also not your prefect Mexican daughterbravelass85's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Rape, and Suicide attempt
melist6's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, and Self harm
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Sexual harassment
kcohrs19's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
cartermon4's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Murder
gem114's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read this because it was added to my 11th grade curriculum. I was a little surprised by some of the more graphic scenes, but I do think kids will relate to the generational divides whether they come from immigrant families or not and that makes it worth any potential awkwardness in class. Will definitely need to give content warnings, though.
As an adult reader, I did struggle at times to be sympathetic to Julia. Maybe it’s my age and personal experience talking, but I do think there are some basic responsibilities that teenagers should have regarding chores, communication with parents, etc that she pushed back on more than was reasonable, and I think Olga’s secrets were unnecessarily over the top, but I can see how this will all make it more appealing to young readers.
As an adult reader, I did struggle at times to be sympathetic to Julia. Maybe it’s my age and personal experience talking, but I do think there are some basic responsibilities that teenagers should have regarding chores, communication with parents, etc that she pushed back on more than was reasonable, and I think Olga’s secrets were unnecessarily over the top, but I can see how this will all make it more appealing to young readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Deportation
kbseymour's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Suicide attempt
Minor: Drug use, Racism, and Sexual content
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I really appreciated 15/16-year-old Julia Reyes's messy personal development in this young adult coming-of-age story. Julia tells this story in first-person, past-tense POV, and this is a character-driven, slow-paced story that explores identity, grief, authenticity, and what it means to live. I am not Mexican, but I do share the identity of being a first-generation child of immigrants, and in that particular light, I deeply related to Julia's journey, especially the generational differences that threatened to dismantle any relationship she had with her mom or dad.
The story takes place in Chicago, IL after Julia's older sister Olga dies in a tragic car accident as she was crossing the street and distracted by her cell phone. Julia always felt she lived in Olga's shadow, as Olga was *the* "perfect Mexican daughter," and in the wake of her death, that shadow only grows. Her distinctions from Olga are under even more scrutiny, and it is a devastatingly heavy burden to bear. Julia was never the obedient daughter, she hated learning how to cook with her mom, and she constantly challenged her parents' authority. Her mom consistently calls Julia "ungrateful" and uses guilt as a way to shame Julia for not making her parents happy. It is painful to read, as it felt very familiar; the constant exhaustion of knowing that nothing you do will ever be enough to pay back your parents who overcame unimaginable trauma to come here feels insurmountable at times.
However, I admired Julia for speaking up and being so incredibly bold and glib. I recognize many people have called her "unlikeable" but I found Julia to be so authentic when I look back on my own teenage experience, pushing and pulling between being a first-generation kid who wanted to do well by their parents, but also wanted to be trusted and have a "normal" American teenage life. To talk back to my parents meant even more autonomy being taken away. That was something I rarely did as a teenager, because I was so scared of consequences. For Julia? Consequences be damned! Is she a bit flippant and ignorant sometimes? Absolutely. She made offensive comments like "hookers" and "gangbangers," but I also think that's representative of a young, angry, frustrated kid. Her phone would be taken away and she couldn't go to the library, and yes, she put up a stink, but she constantly advocated for herself, and I think she more confidently found her voice in therapy too.
There is a subplot of romance between Julia and Connor, which was illuminating for Julia, since she is mostly "inexperienced" as the story begins. I appreciated the argument that Julia got into with her friend about Julia being "uptight" and acting like she was too good for anything. We look for "yes men" and people who will become an echo chamber as friends, especially when we're young as we are rediscovering who we are. However, her friend didn't let Julia walk all over her or proclaim to walk through life as the only "right way". I don't know if that makes sense but this one interaction really spoke to me, and there are so many moments like this throughout the novel which force Julia to confront who she is, who she wants to be, and what that means regarding how she spends her free time, her relationship with her family, college, and writing as an occupation.
The final reveal of the secret life Olga was leading was sad but also satisfying for me to read, because it only affirmed to Julia that Julia would never live up to the "perfect Mexican daughter" ideal, because even her seemingly perfect sister wasn't. Some of it was an act, and she had to hide parts of herself in order to protect optics and make her parents proud. I appreciated this because it brought Olga down to earth, rather than being this unattainable ideal as Julia always thought she was.
This was a powerful narrative about Julia discovering not only herself, but the ways in which the world around her operates, and I highly recommend it to anyone.
content warnings are listed below!
I really appreciated 15/16-year-old Julia Reyes's messy personal development in this young adult coming-of-age story. Julia tells this story in first-person, past-tense POV, and this is a character-driven, slow-paced story that explores identity, grief, authenticity, and what it means to live. I am not Mexican, but I do share the identity of being a first-generation child of immigrants, and in that particular light, I deeply related to Julia's journey, especially the generational differences that threatened to dismantle any relationship she had with her mom or dad.
The story takes place in Chicago, IL after Julia's older sister Olga dies in a tragic car accident as she was crossing the street and distracted by her cell phone. Julia always felt she lived in Olga's shadow, as Olga was *the* "perfect Mexican daughter," and in the wake of her death, that shadow only grows. Her distinctions from Olga are under even more scrutiny, and it is a devastatingly heavy burden to bear. Julia was never the obedient daughter, she hated learning how to cook with her mom, and she constantly challenged her parents' authority. Her mom consistently calls Julia "ungrateful" and uses guilt as a way to shame Julia for not making her parents happy. It is painful to read, as it felt very familiar; the constant exhaustion of knowing that nothing you do will ever be enough to pay back your parents who overcame unimaginable trauma to come here feels insurmountable at times.
However, I admired Julia for speaking up and being so incredibly bold and glib. I recognize many people have called her "unlikeable" but I found Julia to be so authentic when I look back on my own teenage experience, pushing and pulling between being a first-generation kid who wanted to do well by their parents, but also wanted to be trusted and have a "normal" American teenage life. To talk back to my parents meant even more autonomy being taken away. That was something I rarely did as a teenager, because I was so scared of consequences. For Julia? Consequences be damned! Is she a bit flippant and ignorant sometimes? Absolutely. She made offensive comments like "hookers" and "gangbangers," but I also think that's representative of a young, angry, frustrated kid. Her phone would be taken away and she couldn't go to the library, and yes, she put up a stink, but she constantly advocated for herself, and I think she more confidently found her voice in therapy too.
There is a subplot of romance between Julia and Connor, which was illuminating for Julia, since she is mostly "inexperienced" as the story begins. I appreciated the argument that Julia got into with her friend about Julia being "uptight" and acting like she was too good for anything. We look for "yes men" and people who will become an echo chamber as friends, especially when we're young as we are rediscovering who we are. However, her friend didn't let Julia walk all over her or proclaim to walk through life as the only "right way". I don't know if that makes sense but this one interaction really spoke to me, and there are so many moments like this throughout the novel which force Julia to confront who she is, who she wants to be, and what that means regarding how she spends her free time, her relationship with her family, college, and writing as an occupation.
This was a powerful narrative about Julia discovering not only herself, but the ways in which the world around her operates, and I highly recommend it to anyone.
content warnings are listed below!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy