A review by titan_reads
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The timeline was hard to follow and the pacing felt off. Most of the characters didn't stand out in any particular way aside from the trauma they were experiencing(abusive parents, death of parents, struggles with self identity etc.) and I wish there had been time to get into some of the supporting characters.
I had the expectation that the sisters death would be explored more or maybe there would be redemption for the main character and her parents as they learned to navigate their relationship in a healthy way, but I didn't feel that I got either of those things. It's possible that was the authors intention, but the ending just felt a bit sudden without many of the strings wrapped up.
That being said, I liked how the author portrayed grief and complex family dynamics. I personally didn't love the book, but think it was a decent coming of age story. Solid for YA fiction, but I honestly just wanted a bit more.
I had the expectation that the sisters death would be explored more or maybe there would be redemption for the main character and her parents as they learned to navigate their relationship in a healthy way, but I didn't feel that I got either of those things. It's possible that was the authors intention, but the ending just felt a bit sudden without many of the strings wrapped up.
That being said, I liked how the author portrayed grief and complex family dynamics. I personally didn't love the book, but think it was a decent coming of age story. Solid for YA fiction, but I honestly just wanted a bit more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Rape, Racism, Self harm, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Gun violence