I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

""How do we laugh and feel happiness despite the buried things growing inside? How can we do that day after day?"<br/><br/>I read Erika L. Sanchez's poetry collection Lessons on Expulsion earlier this year, and I loved it so much, so I've really been wanting to read this book. Erika is skilled as both a poet and novel writer, and you should read both of her books!<br/><br/>I enjoyed I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. Julia is a tough character to read about, and I loved her because she's so well-rounded. She has positive and negative qualities, and I found her to be relatable. I understand why readers struggle with her. Julia has a lot of bad moments, and she's really cruel and judgmental sometimes - and so are actual humans. She also has a lot of good moments. There's a balance. <br/><br/>This book took me through all the feelings, and I will definitely check out whatever Erika L. Sanchez does next.<br/><br/>TW - attempted suicide"

"Loved it! "

"Powerful story of cross cultural and cross generational misunderstandings. Julia chafes against her traditional, overprotective mother's rules, resentful of the adoration granted her "perfect" older sister Olga. When Olga is killed in a car crash, Julia feels forced to take on the role of the ideal, submissive stay at home Mexican daughter, which she has absolutely no desire to do. After she learns that her sister was not exactly what everyone thought, and that her mother has suffered through some traumatic experiences, Julia is able to come to a better understanding of both women.<br/><br/>There were episodes in this book that made me scream aloud in frustration, notably when Julia's mother, in a benighted attempt to "protect" her, destroys many of Julia's poems and journals. It was very difficult to feel any empathy for the mother at that point. it was also hard to swallow the blatant sexism and homophobia demonstrated by the Mexican American elders. However, i appreciated the complexity of the characters, and Sanchez's painstaking depiction of the hurdles potential first generation college students face. Julia's depression and desperation are heartbreaking and felt all too real."

"I feel seen in so many ways! Excellent read"

"I related a lot to her and cried so much "

"Really good book if you can relate "

"Not really, this book was recommended to me by my sister so I'm not super familiar with the author just yet. "

"I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is the story of Julia. Julia is a teenage girl that doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. She has always been compared to her ‘perfect’ older sister Olga, and this only gets worse when Olga is hit by a semi and dies. Her mom wants her to stay home, be with her family, be happy, and settle for a desk job. But Julia wants to be a writer, she wants to leave Chicago and her family behind and make a life of her own. Julia’s mom is overbearing, critical, doesn’t allow privacy, and constantly judges her daughter. Julia’s father works a lot, and when he is home is silent. Julia feels the weight of being her parents’ only daughter now, and she struggles to be happy. Throughout the book we see Julia’s depression deepen. This book is full of heavy topics: rape, attempted suicide, death. But Julia is able to overcome and eventually accept who she is, and more importantly -who she will never be. <br/><br/>I’ve seen criticism from other reviewers that Julia is an unlikable protagonist, that she is rude and negative. But I think this is unfair. Julia was in a deep depression. She felt horrible inside and she projected this on everybody else. Yes, she can be rude – but she is so used to being put down and judged by her mother, that she began to do the same thing to others. I’m glad that Julia found the help she needed. I’m sure as her happiness and self-worth improved, she would have become a better person. <br/>"

"Grate book"

"Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez is a YA book that deals with so many emotions that teenagers feel. The book opens with Julia talking about her dead sister Olga. As Julia tries to learn more about her sister’s life that seemed to have some secrets, she deals with overprotective parents that seem to put Olga up on a pedestal. She can’t seem to get along with anyone or get a handle on her emotions. While I can’t say that I really felt any of the extreme emotions that Julia goes through, I thought it was a good representation of so many kids. I believe that many kids would find parallels in their own lives and feel a connection with Julia."