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A review by wanderlust_romance
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This is the sort of young adult that is written in the uniquely teen voice, but tackles a lot of complex issues. It’s the sort of YA that would be helpful for a young reader to discuss and unpack with a trusted adult in their life. The most challenging fiction is the one that turns the mirror on ourselves and highlights all the hidden, uglier parts of our interior and shines a light on it for all to see. The proverbial mirror that challenges readers to reckon with all those things we would much rather ignore.
Julia’s voice is unique. At the start of the book, she is 15. Her sister has just died in a tragic accident and she is alone in her grief, regret, and anger. She was so messy, and I loved that she was allowed to be messy and make mistakes and reexamine what she thought she knew. Julia was written in a way that reminds readers outside the intended YA audience that the inner lives of teens are so much more than meets the eye. It’s so easy to forget what you, as an older reader, were like as a teen (sullen, moody, defiant, reading Camus because I wanted to look smarter than everyone, only listening to indie and new wave…jesus, I was a lot more like Julia than I thought lol). I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter was heartbreaking and reassuring and complicated and full of emotion and self discovery.
concepts this book confronts and highlights:
Julia’s voice is unique. At the start of the book, she is 15. Her sister has just died in a tragic accident and she is alone in her grief, regret, and anger. She was so messy, and I loved that she was allowed to be messy and make mistakes and reexamine what she thought she knew. Julia was written in a way that reminds readers outside the intended YA audience that the inner lives of teens are so much more than meets the eye. It’s so easy to forget what you, as an older reader, were like as a teen (sullen, moody, defiant, reading Camus because I wanted to look smarter than everyone, only listening to indie and new wave…jesus, I was a lot more like Julia than I thought lol). I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter was heartbreaking and reassuring and complicated and full of emotion and self discovery.
concepts this book confronts and highlights:
- Cultural family expectations for daughters (patriarchy)
- Complexities of bilingualism in the US for immigrants and children of immigrants
- Death and grief
- Mental health support and de-stigmatizing therapy in communities of color
- Poverty and food insecurity
- Internalized racism and xenophobia
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment