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I was given access to this eARC through Edelweiss, with thanks to the publisher and the author.
'This is Not a Personal Statement' is an interesting and original view on the extremes of behaviour that can be caused by pressure on young people to be perfect.
The story follows Perla Perez, a sixteen year old born to two Filipino-American's whose parents emigrated to the USA before them. Thanks to their high-paying prestigious jobs, Perla has been afforded the best of private education; she is a bright teenager who has skipped two grades during her educational years; who dreams of attending Delmont University and studying pre-med. Though just sixteen, thanks to her intelligence and the skipping of the grades, she's able to apply to university two years before most others.
From a young age, Perla has been pressured in every aspect of her life to be perfect; to succeed. It is drilled into her by her family, especially her parents, who consistently talk about how hard they have to work and how much better they have to be than everyone else, to be held to the same standard due to their ethnicity and migrant roots. And she is brilliant, even if it isn't always recognised.
After years of being reprimanded for anything less than perfect scores, results, grades, and actions, Perla can see her life crumbling around her when she gets rejected from not only her dream university, but every single other she applied too, to. Faced with the question of who she is without success, and the fear of letting down her parents, teachers, and everyone else who is expecting her to be great, she comes up with an impossible plan.
Whatever that slip of paper says, Perla Perez is going to university.
This book is really well written, and the character development is clear and wonderful for most of those involved. It is difficult at times to see the perspective of some people in this story, when we consider the lengths that Perla goes to to cover up the fact that she was rejected from university.
This is a story warning of the dangers of putting too much pressure on children; of expecting things from them that they cannot possibly give. Perfection is not attainable, even when it is striven for.
'This is Not a Personal Statement' is an interesting and original view on the extremes of behaviour that can be caused by pressure on young people to be perfect.
The story follows Perla Perez, a sixteen year old born to two Filipino-American's whose parents emigrated to the USA before them. Thanks to their high-paying prestigious jobs, Perla has been afforded the best of private education; she is a bright teenager who has skipped two grades during her educational years; who dreams of attending Delmont University and studying pre-med. Though just sixteen, thanks to her intelligence and the skipping of the grades, she's able to apply to university two years before most others.
From a young age, Perla has been pressured in every aspect of her life to be perfect; to succeed. It is drilled into her by her family, especially her parents, who consistently talk about how hard they have to work and how much better they have to be than everyone else, to be held to the same standard due to their ethnicity and migrant roots. And she is brilliant, even if it isn't always recognised.
After years of being reprimanded for anything less than perfect scores, results, grades, and actions, Perla can see her life crumbling around her when she gets rejected from not only her dream university, but every single other she applied too, to. Faced with the question of who she is without success, and the fear of letting down her parents, teachers, and everyone else who is expecting her to be great, she comes up with an impossible plan.
Whatever that slip of paper says, Perla Perez is going to university.
This book is really well written, and the character development is clear and wonderful for most of those involved. It is difficult at times to see the perspective of some people in this story, when we consider the lengths that Perla goes to to cover up the fact that she was rejected from university.
This is a story warning of the dangers of putting too much pressure on children; of expecting things from them that they cannot possibly give. Perfection is not attainable, even when it is striven for.
medium-paced
The second-to-last chapter with Perla talking to her parents was the most impactful part of this book.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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âž• Diverse Characters, Easy to Read, Coming of Age Story, Strong Opening
âž– Lack of Consequences Resulting in Slower Pace, A Little Lengthy
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book wasn't for me, but it could be for you! It extensively played out the "what if" scenario of an over-achieving high schooler who graduated at 16 and spun a web of lies that she'd been accepted to her dream school--going so far as to be homeless pretending to be a student for months. Perhaps it was trying to be zany in how far it took the deception and teach us some important lessons, but I found it to be extremely stressful and anxiety inducing.
I think it's trying to shine a light on the pressures that parents can put on their kids (in this case, a first gen immigrant family), the ways that kids can internalize the identities placed on them, and the lack of judgment that teens have in knowing when to ask for help (or how to do that when home doesn't feel supportive). The way it all unraveled did not satisfy the intense anxiety that it caused me for the duration.
As I try to think who may like this book, it could resonate for teens who feel crushing pressure and want to see someone who has it even worse (or reacts very poorly to that pressure) to try to open a conversation between the kiddo and their parent(s). It's accessible for teens who want a book that doesn't emphasize romance and maybe who don't have anxiety so this won't stress them out. It's well written, the premise just felt very heavy unless the kid reading it can use it as a way to broach a conversation with their parents--I love the idea of using it for that.
I think it's trying to shine a light on the pressures that parents can put on their kids (in this case, a first gen immigrant family), the ways that kids can internalize the identities placed on them, and the lack of judgment that teens have in knowing when to ask for help (or how to do that when home doesn't feel supportive). The way it all unraveled did not satisfy the intense anxiety that it caused me for the duration.
As I try to think who may like this book, it could resonate for teens who feel crushing pressure and want to see someone who has it even worse (or reacts very poorly to that pressure) to try to open a conversation between the kiddo and their parent(s). It's accessible for teens who want a book that doesn't emphasize romance and maybe who don't have anxiety so this won't stress them out. It's well written, the premise just felt very heavy unless the kid reading it can use it as a way to broach a conversation with their parents--I love the idea of using it for that.
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
8th & up
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So this book was supposed to be a February read but after going to the authors book event I just had to read it and find out what it was all about! & It did not disappoint! I devoured this book in 3 days!
This book was intense! But fun and unique too! I cannot imagine being 16 and going to college and a prestigious one at that. The MC Perla has parents that expect excellence and nothing less so I can see why she would fake her admission to her dream school. She wanted to please her parents! I felt sad for her at times. I guess since I am an adult I couldn’t help but be like, girl! Stand up to them! Talk back! Something! Then when she was lying to the friends she was making I again was like GIRL! & there were so many times where I was like, okay this is it… she’s going to get caught… she’s going to confess… but NO! She wiggled her way out of the situation and was able to keep up her lie! She was good!
I don’t want to give too much away but overall a great book!
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just don't think I was really the right audience for this one. It just seemed too fantastic and over the top as far as a sixteen year old getting away with living on a college campus for MONTHS with little to no notice from anyone. How's she sitting in on classes? How does no one catch her scaling trees to crawl into her (stolen) dorm room? Also, I know she's sixteen but it feels like there was little to no repercussion for her actions? Sure, she's ultimately denied from the school she infiltrates and has to go to therapy, but she trespassed, stole property, forged her parents' signatures and the list goes ON AND ON AND ON. And yes, I know she's a teenager. I know teenagers are prone to ridiculous decisions. But this just seems like TOO much.