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book_dropper 's review for:
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
by Erika L. Sánchez
Wow, I don't think I've ever been so conflicted when rating/reviewing a book. There are so many perspectives that I understood but I can also see how both sides are wrong. However, I love that there was a level of hope for both Julia and Ama to bond together better. This book really hit home and something that a lot of BIPOC feel when it comes to their families, I can definitely feel a lot of what Julia went through. However, there are others that can feel a tremendous amount more of the pain that Julia went through. Death is definitely a recurring topic in this book and I think that was done purposely to the fact that the author probably wanted the reader to feel the same tension that was happening in the book.
Julia, I don't even know where to start with how her character was truly someone that I felt conflicted about because there were times when I was annoyed by her but then I remembered that she was a child and that she just lost her sister. Also, losing her sister was more than that because it becomes obvious that her sister, Olga, was who kept this family together and taking that away just brought in SO much tension. The relationship between Julia and Ama, mother in spanish, was something that I heavily related to, especially during my teen years. However, there were times where I felt that Julia wasn't trying to understand or compromise with her mom but then there were times that I felt the same about Ama and how she wouldn't understand or compromise with Julia.
Ama's character reminds me of Abuelita from Encanto because there's this feeling where you think they're the "villain" but in reality their characters are based off what they went through. Obviously, there are things that could've been better but not everyone is given that chance to grow in the way that's deemed correct since they simply don't know what is and isn't acceptable. They rely heavily on how they were raised and passing that down. However, by the end of the book, I feel that Ama is trying to do better for Julia but is still letting Julia know that she won't always understand which honestly is the best that you can ask for when Ama and Julia's relationship was really tense.
Overall, this book was truly an interesting read and something that I enjoyed reading, even if there were many times that I got annoyed, mad, or just feral because of how the characters were acting. I do think that I enjoyed the book since I enjoyed Julia trying to figure out what Olga was up to when she was alive. The mystery aspect wasn't something that I thought was a part of the book but it was something that I enjoyed reading. Also, the coming of age is definitely something that not everyone will relate to since it's very individualized based off of culture. I do think that there are many great things in this book and I highly recommend that people read it.
Trigger Warnings:
-Death
-Suicide/Self Harm
-Bad mother/daughter relationship
-Rape/Sexual Assault
-Microaggressions
Julia, I don't even know where to start with how her character was truly someone that I felt conflicted about because there were times when I was annoyed by her but then I remembered that she was a child and that she just lost her sister. Also, losing her sister was more than that because it becomes obvious that her sister, Olga, was who kept this family together and taking that away just brought in SO much tension. The relationship between Julia and Ama, mother in spanish, was something that I heavily related to, especially during my teen years. However, there were times where I felt that Julia wasn't trying to understand or compromise with her mom but then there were times that I felt the same about Ama and how she wouldn't understand or compromise with Julia.
Ama's character reminds me of Abuelita from Encanto because there's this feeling where you think they're the "villain" but in reality their characters are based off what they went through. Obviously, there are things that could've been better but not everyone is given that chance to grow in the way that's deemed correct since they simply don't know what is and isn't acceptable. They rely heavily on how they were raised and passing that down. However, by the end of the book, I feel that Ama is trying to do better for Julia but is still letting Julia know that she won't always understand which honestly is the best that you can ask for when Ama and Julia's relationship was really tense.
Overall, this book was truly an interesting read and something that I enjoyed reading, even if there were many times that I got annoyed, mad, or just feral because of how the characters were acting. I do think that I enjoyed the book since I enjoyed Julia trying to figure out what Olga was up to when she was alive. The mystery aspect wasn't something that I thought was a part of the book but it was something that I enjoyed reading. Also, the coming of age is definitely something that not everyone will relate to since it's very individualized based off of culture. I do think that there are many great things in this book and I highly recommend that people read it.
Trigger Warnings:
-Death
-Suicide/Self Harm
-Bad mother/daughter relationship
-Rape/Sexual Assault
-Microaggressions