I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, by Erika L. Sánchez

The book “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika L. Sanchez follows the life of a girl named Julia Reyes. The wild child of her family, Julia is not one who would bend to fit the standards her parents would put on her as their child. Her older sister on the other hand is someone whom people would consider the golden child in their family, so it is safe to say that her passing was not taken lightly at all. This event would lead to a spiral of difficulties for the 15-year-old. A strained relationship with her parents, questions left unanswered, sudden changes in her life, and struggles with her mental wellbeing - life at this point has not been good to her. The story follows Julia in her life as a first-generation American and how the burden of grief leads to her almost taking her own life but also finding the will to live and continue with her dreams and taking on her opportunities.

The Coming of Age genre is something that has always gained my appreciation in different things like books and movies, therefore, this book was truly an enjoyable read. I found the plot of this story not only interesting but also very relatable to what teens may feel in today’s society. The topics discussed in this book felt timely and relevant despite being published years ago. I think that the author did a fantastic job showing how the grief of losing a loved one and regret leads us to treat others badly. An example is how Julia’s mother now wants to throw her a quinceañera, something she was not able to do for her older sister who had passed; this event shows how we try to ease our regrets by treating someone else with something we lacked in treating another. This book is an interesting read, and I highly recommend it for those who take an interest in coming-of-age stories with mental health topics involved, and those who want to read more on the point of view of a character/author who is a first-generation American.

Reviewed by Alex C., Grade 10

Montrose Library