andipants's review against another edition
5.0
This was excellent. Books structured as diaries can be hard to pull off; they sometimes tend to either get too plot-heavy and lose that feeling of authenticity, that this could be somebody's actual life, or they go the other direction and get too slice-of-lifey and just forget to have a plot altogether. This book walks that line perfectly; a ton of things happen, but it never veers into sensationalism or turns into an after-school special. Issues are raised and worked through, but it's messy and complicated; there are no pat answers.
Most of all, Gabi's voice is clear and vibrant throughout. There are parts that are a little preachy, and parts that are a little cringey, and parts where you definitely feel like she might have different (or at least more complicated) thoughts on something a few years down the road -- exactly like an actual teenager's diary. Reading through this felt A LOT like reading through some of the notebooks I kept in high school -- not the same subject matter, but oh god, those feelings. That's not to say it's an overall awkward or cringey book -- it includes those moments, but on the whole it's just a very real-feeling book. Other aspects are good, too, but this would get a solid five stars from me just solely for its pitch-perfect encapsulation of the glory and agony and sheer awkwardness that is the late teen years. Definitely recommended.
Most of all, Gabi's voice is clear and vibrant throughout. There are parts that are a little preachy, and parts that are a little cringey, and parts where you definitely feel like she might have different (or at least more complicated) thoughts on something a few years down the road -- exactly like an actual teenager's diary. Reading through this felt A LOT like reading through some of the notebooks I kept in high school -- not the same subject matter, but oh god, those feelings. That's not to say it's an overall awkward or cringey book -- it includes those moments, but on the whole it's just a very real-feeling book. Other aspects are good, too, but this would get a solid five stars from me just solely for its pitch-perfect encapsulation of the glory and agony and sheer awkwardness that is the late teen years. Definitely recommended.
seoltang's review against another edition
4.0
"The levee broke. I hurricane. I flood. I baptismal waters. God the punisher. Ancient being full of wrath. Hammer of Thor. Bolt of Zeus. Huitzilopochtli emerging from Coatepec—recently birthed and thirsty for vengeance. Chola from the barrio that I could never be. I was pissed." this girl i swear
vrjul_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
rachelhaylee's review against another edition
3.0
This book showed me a culture to which I have had very little exposure. As I live in Australia, it is extremely rare to meet someone with strong Mexican roots as with Gabi and her family.
It gave me an insight to a somewhat new world and it was extremely interesting. What I loved was that although I have had a completely different upbringing than those in this novel, I still related to specific aspects of the story which really pulled me in.
It was a fun, and eye-opening read that I highly recommend to everyone!
It gave me an insight to a somewhat new world and it was extremely interesting. What I loved was that although I have had a completely different upbringing than those in this novel, I still related to specific aspects of the story which really pulled me in.
It was a fun, and eye-opening read that I highly recommend to everyone!
sandy_reads_books's review against another edition
This book by Isabel Quintero felt so powerful to read and I am so glad I encountered it. I wish so much that I had read it when I was younger and I wish this book was more widely known/read. The themes in this book are so important to me and they are generally themes and stories that don’t get talked about enough so having so many condensed in this book is amazing. Some of the themes I can think of (but not exhaustive) are:
Sex
Relationships (with friends, siblings, romantic partners etc)
Growing up as a woman
Abortion
Drug addiction
Body image
Rape
Religion (as an oppressive force)
Sexuality
Family
I am sure there are others but this feels like a pretty good list. I will say that I read a review on goodreads first this book in which the writer said they wished the book discussed the main character’s eating disorder more directly rather than just as a symptom of her life which I think I can agree with. Even with this wish I really can’t say I would want Quintero to change what she has written because it is so important to me and I hope more people read it.
What I also really like about this book is that it is about a community of which I am not a part of and cannot say I really know. With that I love that this book is about Mexican Americans, but that that is not the thread that holds this story together. In reading it I get the sense that we are more alike than we are unalike because the story focuses on her life as her life and not exclusively from the perspective of a life as a Mexican American girl (although that identity is certainly a part of it).
I encountered this book looking for book to read in Spanish. I know it was originally published in English and I am sure I missed out on the fullness of Isabel Quintero’s art because my grip on Spanish is not as good as my English and typically the original is the most faithful to the author’s initial intention, but I am glad that I got to practice while reading something that is indelibly tied to Spanish even if it is not what they speak in the book.
My final words: please read this book and have other people you know read it, Quintero’s messages and themes need to be heard more.
Sex
Relationships (with friends, siblings, romantic partners etc)
Growing up as a woman
Abortion
Drug addiction
Body image
Rape
Religion (as an oppressive force)
Sexuality
Family
I am sure there are others but this feels like a pretty good list. I will say that I read a review on goodreads first this book in which the writer said they wished the book discussed the main character’s eating disorder more directly rather than just as a symptom of her life which I think I can agree with. Even with this wish I really can’t say I would want Quintero to change what she has written because it is so important to me and I hope more people read it.
What I also really like about this book is that it is about a community of which I am not a part of and cannot say I really know. With that I love that this book is about Mexican Americans, but that that is not the thread that holds this story together. In reading it I get the sense that we are more alike than we are unalike because the story focuses on her life as her life and not exclusively from the perspective of a life as a Mexican American girl (although that identity is certainly a part of it).
I encountered this book looking for book to read in Spanish. I know it was originally published in English and I am sure I missed out on the fullness of Isabel Quintero’s art because my grip on Spanish is not as good as my English and typically the original is the most faithful to the author’s initial intention, but I am glad that I got to practice while reading something that is indelibly tied to Spanish even if it is not what they speak in the book.
My final words: please read this book and have other people you know read it, Quintero’s messages and themes need to be heard more.
lavaplant's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.0
Audio reread
rlg_77's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
monarchbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
I laughed. I cried. I wanted to throw up. All the signs of a good book.
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This is what I expected and wanted from Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter that I didn’t get. Gabi is written with an authentic voice of a teenager who is juggling senior year in California with a lot of family & friends baggage. I laughed & cried. Questioning so much it was like I was seeing me in these pages. Gabi is being told that a good Mexican girl has a checklist but despite being the only (& oldest) daughter in the family yet her younger brother isn’t given those same rules. Yet Gabi has dreams of her own that don’t involve staying with an overworked, controlling mother. Backlist gems from nearly ten years ago, this didn’t feel outdated at all. Ironically, I was graduating college in 2014 but even 21 year old Amanda would have loved this as much as 31 year old me does today.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Drug abuse
Minor: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Death of parent