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

emotional reflective 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? No

5.0

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez was a five-star read for me in June and is another YA novel that has the depth of adult literary fiction.  In it we meet Julia who is navigating early adulthood while grieving the unexpected death of her sister, Olga.  
 
Olga was the one making life choices her parents wanted for their daughters and Julia feels like she is tasked with filling the role, yet she keeps pushing back on it.  Instead she is trying to understand her parent’s immigration journey and what drives them to be the people they are today; something they are trying hard to put behind them.  And she’s determined to unravel clues to Olga’s social life that seemed hidden from everyone, only to be shocked by what she finds. 
 
The story is told with both the insecurity and perseverance of a young person who finally feels that it’s their moment to make decisions for themselves, only to be weighed down with grief and a changing family.  If you enjoy reading emotional coming-of-age stories, this is an excellent choice. 
 
Content warnings: Self-harm, Death, Grief, Sexual assault 
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