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

I grew up 15 minutes away from the author’s hometown, with immigrant parents who also had to drop out of high school to help their families. I also lost myself in books and hid notebooks full of poems and stories. The similarities of our stories made the contrasts more stark, namely the privilege my parents had as European immigrants who spoke English. I think everyone who reaches adulthood carries some trauma with them, but this story made me all the more grateful for the joy my parents had, their zest for life and for education. The last third, as Julia begins to understand her family members as individuals for the first time, was moving. Overall I was not a fan of Julia’s voice, which can make or break a first-person narrative. Still, I’m glad I read it.