Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

113 reviews

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

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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. 

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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

snarkycrafter's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-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

3.0

While I related to Julia’s character, I found it difficult to enjoy the book. Ultimately, I think that’s because this is written for a younger audience (I’m nearing 40). I think young adults would enjoy this book and find it inspiring and hopeful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

joisaddler's review

emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Classism

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, Abortion, and Alcohol

cielosiluminado'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? Yes

4.0

leer este libro me causó tener una crisis emocional porque relacioné mucho con julia y el tema de los cosas que gente de primera generación navegan, especialmente sobre la identidad y que confundido es para nosotros porque ningún lado nos acepta completamente T__T

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death and Violence

erinmcav'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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault

elisa26's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Child abuse and Homophobia

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

catbuechler's review against another edition

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

salemwasinyouryard's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

vreyna20_2004's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Despite the story being about finding out about Olga’s secret I felt unsatisfied at the end. I would’ve wanted Julia to tell her parents about Olga’s affair as well as her pregnancy but I understood why she did it. The book was great showing the struggles a female Latina faces within her community (speaking from experience) but I couldn’t get past how obnoxious Julia is. She found every and any excuse to criticize people including but not limited to her own DECEASED sister which I understand being 16 and constantly being compared to someone you would expect your parent to prefer them over you, but it got annoying that despite the things Olga did for Julia when they were kids Julia didn’t care because of how tainted Olga’s image become all because of Julia’s mother. She tried to be there for her sister and all Julia did was push her away I’m not surprised why Angie push Julia away when Julia started snooping into Olga’s business.

I would’ve wished Julia apologized to her sister as the main reason why her family got reunited was because of the grief Julia felt after Olga’s death but it’s whatever. In my opinion the author wrapped up Olga’s story too quickly and sometimes talked about finding Olga’s secret. I would’ve loved to see Julia grow and realize why people did the things they did as well but instead she did what she wanted with a more open mind which I can’t judge that much. I also wished that they talked more about what had occurred in the border with Amá and Apá so it can help Julia understand why her parents are like that same with knowing why Apá stopped drawing to show Julia that not everyone can follow their dreams instead of him just saying it and moving on.

And I also found Julia to be a hypocrite as she has mentioned that she hates when people keep secrets yet is keeping a major secret from her family which I know it’s not her secret to tell but I would’ve wanted to know something about my own kid if it was a secret this big. But that’s besides the point. Julia is just judgmental but cries when people give her the same energy. For someone who is so “smart” she sometimes acts stupid I have to facepalm for example when Lorena told her that she is such a judgmental person that she wishes she can just calm down but instead Julia started to cry despite Julia calling Lorena names as well.

Overall I liked the book but that was really it. I loved the references to Mexico/Mexican culture and I would’ve loved if Julia appreciated it more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Pregnancy