Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
The audiobook was amazing, but since it got returned, I finished the book via hardcover in the summer.
Written in present tense, first person POV.
Written in present tense, first person POV.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape
Julia is growing up as the daughter of Mexican immigrants in Chicago. Until recently, she flew under the radar of her overprotective parents, because her older sister, Olga, held a monopoly on their attention. Olga never lied. Olga worked hard to bring money home. Olga went to community college. And most of all, Olga never dreamed of leaving home.
Until Olga is killed in a tragic accident involving a semi truck.
Julia’s story begins just a few weeks after the death of her older sister. She finds herself grappling with the trauma of losing Olga, and also the constant attention that is now shifted Julia’s direction. Olga had always been the perfect one, but now the traditional Mexican role of “Perfectly Obedient” child falls on Julia’s unwilling shoulders.
When Olga was around Julia was able to fade into the background. Her parents had no idea that she and her friends had taken up smoking weed and she would never dream of sharing that after high school she planned to go to college in NYC. Mexican daughters just didn’t do that.
Working through her own grief led Julia to her beloved sister’s bedroom where she found a few items that led to the realization that Olga wasn’t the perfect daughter that Ama and Apa had believed her to be. She had a secret life–and Julia was determined to break into Olga’s laptop to prove it.
This is a story of a daring Mexican daughter going to great lengths to uncover her family’s secrets. This quest takes Julia to some dark corners and along the way she must deal with her own demons.
A tale of breaking stereotypes, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is a coming of age tale that puts readers into the shoes of a troubled teen trying to come-of-age by her own terms. With themes of grief, mental health, and strength Julia exemplifies growing up according to Mexican culture and she embodies the feminist values that so many young girls need to hear.
I really enjoyed this book. It moved a bit slow in the beginning, but that served to create a bond between readers and Julia. In the end, I felt that Julia’s character arc was beautifully articulated. She went from a bitter, troubled teen to an understanding daughter with a redemptive heart. I also enjoyed learning more about Mexican and immigrant culture through this book. Ama and Apa both immigrated to America shortly before Olga was born and so much of their journey shaped their lives as parents.
Until Olga is killed in a tragic accident involving a semi truck.
Julia’s story begins just a few weeks after the death of her older sister. She finds herself grappling with the trauma of losing Olga, and also the constant attention that is now shifted Julia’s direction. Olga had always been the perfect one, but now the traditional Mexican role of “Perfectly Obedient” child falls on Julia’s unwilling shoulders.
When Olga was around Julia was able to fade into the background. Her parents had no idea that she and her friends had taken up smoking weed and she would never dream of sharing that after high school she planned to go to college in NYC. Mexican daughters just didn’t do that.
Working through her own grief led Julia to her beloved sister’s bedroom where she found a few items that led to the realization that Olga wasn’t the perfect daughter that Ama and Apa had believed her to be. She had a secret life–and Julia was determined to break into Olga’s laptop to prove it.
This is a story of a daring Mexican daughter going to great lengths to uncover her family’s secrets. This quest takes Julia to some dark corners and along the way she must deal with her own demons.
A tale of breaking stereotypes, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is a coming of age tale that puts readers into the shoes of a troubled teen trying to come-of-age by her own terms. With themes of grief, mental health, and strength Julia exemplifies growing up according to Mexican culture and she embodies the feminist values that so many young girls need to hear.
I really enjoyed this book. It moved a bit slow in the beginning, but that served to create a bond between readers and Julia. In the end, I felt that Julia’s character arc was beautifully articulated. She went from a bitter, troubled teen to an understanding daughter with a redemptive heart. I also enjoyed learning more about Mexican and immigrant culture through this book. Ama and Apa both immigrated to America shortly before Olga was born and so much of their journey shaped their lives as parents.
The message the book was telling was great but it’s so disappointing and badly executed. Had a happy ending but so slow and for a book I thought would be so good and was so excited to read it took me 4 months to finish.
She is truly not the perfect Mexican daughter, and that's fucking awesome. I really liked how Sanchez was able to have a dialogue about Mexicans (specifically the old schools) and mental health in a story. I feel like modern day first generation mexican-americans will come to appreciate this because the cultural differences that shit ain't easy to navigate between parents and their children. It was beautiful to see the entire family grow thru their traumas together.
While I wasn't the first generation to be born in the USA, Ive seen how hard it is to deal with some serious mental health shit with parents who came from an environment that didn't tolerate it. My mother was that child, and I really wish she had better support and tools to navigate thru her demons. So this topic is definitely much needed to be widely talked about within the community.
While I wasn't the first generation to be born in the USA, Ive seen how hard it is to deal with some serious mental health shit with parents who came from an environment that didn't tolerate it. My mother was that child, and I really wish she had better support and tools to navigate thru her demons. So this topic is definitely much needed to be widely talked about within the community.
emotional
inspiring
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