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A review by claryperezv
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
2.0
There was a good opportunity in this book to tackle the stigma around multiple issues in our culture (including mental health, sexism, family issues, etc) and instead, in a very mexican way, it was all swept under the table. I kept reading hoping that they would work towards a better relationship as a family, but just like it happens in real life the daughter moves on, has her own life and will probably continue to lie about her life to make her parents happy (I would know about that).
Even though I understand where the mom (both parents really) is coming from with the way she acts with Julia, that doesn’t mean it’s correct for her to treat her like she did to the point where she almost commited suicide? Why was that never spoken of? They sent her to Mexico as if that was going to fix it, which of course it didn’t, it just acted as a distraction for a small period of time before she went back home, they didn’t even tell the family… depression and anxiety are nothing to be afraid of and maybe as mexicans we need to talk about it, we need to see that it’s nothing to be ashamed of and we should tell our family because there’s nothing wrong with it. Things don’t change because as a community we allow them to remain a secret.
Don’t even get me started with the typical American fear of Mexico and how the mom says she would’ve never sent her if she knew it was “dangerous” again… people live in Mexico you know? it is just as dangerous if not more to live in the US. It always makes me sad how Mexican Americans (specially children of immigrants) move to the US and are taught that Mexico is this forbidden dangerous place they should try to avoid visiting… IT’S NOT.
This book could’ve started a conversation and instead you end up feeling hopeless, it makes you feel that as a mexican daughter that is just how things are and adults will never understand you when they should try, the should make an effort too and they should be told they’re wrong too, they need to hear it.
Even though I understand where the mom (both parents really) is coming from with the way she acts with Julia, that doesn’t mean it’s correct for her to treat her like she did to the point where she almost commited suicide? Why was that never spoken of? They sent her to Mexico as if that was going to fix it, which of course it didn’t, it just acted as a distraction for a small period of time before she went back home, they didn’t even tell the family… depression and anxiety are nothing to be afraid of and maybe as mexicans we need to talk about it, we need to see that it’s nothing to be ashamed of and we should tell our family because there’s nothing wrong with it. Things don’t change because as a community we allow them to remain a secret.
Don’t even get me started with the typical American fear of Mexico and how the mom says she would’ve never sent her if she knew it was “dangerous” again… people live in Mexico you know? it is just as dangerous if not more to live in the US. It always makes me sad how Mexican Americans (specially children of immigrants) move to the US and are taught that Mexico is this forbidden dangerous place they should try to avoid visiting… IT’S NOT.
This book could’ve started a conversation and instead you end up feeling hopeless, it makes you feel that as a mexican daughter that is just how things are and adults will never understand you when they should try, the should make an effort too and they should be told they’re wrong too, they need to hear it.