I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

Erika L. Sanchez, a Mexican-American novelist, has been greatly recognized for her outstanding literature throughout recent years. Erika earned an MFA in creative writing from the University of New Mexico. On 2017, Sanchez published her empowering novel called, “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,” and has since then made a huge impact on critics and mainly teenagers. It’s really no surprise that her young adult novel won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature; Sanchez has been recently named a Princeton Arts Fellow and has received many acknowledgements because of her great work. Sanchez’s piece of literature has impacted hundreds of teens as it touches upon relatable, major conflicts that Hispanic families encounter, which makes readers feel identified and intrigued by this compelling story. The author narrates the life of Julia, a bold and rebellious teen, after her ‘perfect’ sister, Olga, dies in an accident. Julia is a complex character who feels left out from her family as she has always been different and expectations to what a Mexican lady should and shouldn’t do are always present reminded by her mother. Different from Julia, Olga seemed to be the perfect daughter, always helping around the house, doing what her parents wanted her to do, obeying the rules, and going to a close to home college. Nevertheless, Julia finds out some strange objects in Olga’s room that arouses curiosity and makes Julia question whether Olga was actually as innocent and a goody two shoes as she made it seem. With determination and help of her best friend as well as lover, Julia seeks to find the truth about her dead sister’s hidden, intriguing life. As previously mentioned, Julia lives in a household where expectations and limitations are always present. Erika Sanchez does an amazing job portraying how the life of a Mexican young girl is. I felt greatly identified as I grew up in a strict, Mexican household. There are all these responsibilities thrown at girls from a very young age. They’re expected to be the ones staying at home, helping mothers cook, clean, etc. while the guys just go work or stay home doing nothing or at times, just drinking. Julia, however, opposes to these norms, but feels guilty for it as her mother always compares her to her sister and even boasts about how great Olga was. Sanchez creates a strong, hard-headed character and gives motives for her defiant actions, which because of her actions and personality, a captivating plot is produced. I could really relate to Julia and her personality; she’s smart, reserved, loves reading and writing, and doesn’t follow on the expectations her Mexican family have. Since I can remember, I was always expected to clean the house, wash clothes, and cook. I’m expected to clean all the mess even if it’s all my brothers and I absolutely hate that. This book felt close to home as I’ve had similar thought that Julia had. Additionally, alike her, I am often compared to my siblings to notice how one is better at some things than the other, which is actually really upsetting. Erika L. Sanchez’s novel had a positive impact on me because her life was relatable and her story was truly captivating. “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” is genuinely one of the best books I’ve read since I could really identify with the protagonist. The plot of Julia’s story is interesting and keeps readers entertained while also revealing the truth about how Mexican families are. I believe it sets an important message to people, mainly teenagers. We are too often pushed to our limits and people still expect more from us. Teens are expected to always obey their parents and do everything they want, especially in Mexican families, where everyone has a significant role. In her novel, Sanchez reveals how everyone has secrets and literally no one is perfect, but that is okay, that’s how life is.

This book was so good I finished it in just three days. I laughed, I cried, and I felt deeply seen. I resonated with Julia because I see so much of myself in her independent, doing things her own way, and navigating life after losing her only sister. The final sentence broke me. Julia holding her sister’s ultrasound and saying, “How amazing is it that I hold a piece of her right here in my hands.” I cried thinking about my own life, about how I now have my sister’s children. This book touched my heart in a way I won’t forget.

I really enjoyed this book which was an easy read. As a woman of Mexican descent, I was happy to support this Latino author. This was a nice coming-of-age-type story. I felt the references with regard to ethnicity and culture were authentic. I wish the ending had a little more punch and had been a bit more controversial, which I can’t really expound upon without giving away the ending. I would purchase from this author again.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez, is a book about a girl and her family. The book speaks alot on mental well-being, grief, cultural expectations, family dynamics, and identity. In the beginning of the book it speaks about how the family is pushing through their grief after the eldest daughter's passing. Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter shows how grief is something many people struggle with and go through at some point in their lives, but that there is a way to make it through those hard times. The family expectations which were put on fifteen year old Julia’s shoulders after her sister's passing was alot for her to handle. Though with the friends and examples she had in her life it made things difficult for her to be able to meet the expectations that her mother had. This book is a very valuable read and I would definitely recommend reading it!!

Such a wonderful book, honestly a very interesting book.

I started this Y.A. novel because it was listed as a must read on a writer’s blog. Initially, I wondered why this book was so highly recommended because the female protagonist, Julia, seems like an obnoxious, lazy, spoiled, self-centered adolescent. She is highly critical of other people, does not want to help her mother with household duties, and seems oblivious to the difficult life that her mother, Ama, and her father, Apa, face on a daily basis. When Julia’s older sister, Olga, is killed in a car accident, the family is devastated, but Julia seems unable to offer sympathy and support to her parents. Ama does not make the situation easier on Julia when she blames Julia for actions that resulted in the tragic accident, an accusation that could be construed from the spoiled behavior of Julia. I thought, I can’t relate to this girl. Nonetheless, I continued to trudge forward with the novel. I discovered more reasons to understand Julia’s personality and behaviors. She has plenty of reasons to be depressed and obstinate. Her behavior could also be listed as an amazing example of youthful resilience. The novel is told in first person and a reader will observe that Julia has an amazing sarcastic and inventive wit, an insightful take on human hypocrisy, and a broad awareness of literature. She is acutely aware of sights, sounds, and smells in her urban surroundings and likewise when she takes a trip to her hometown in Mexico. Julia’s personality grows on a reader. Her determination to rise above her environmental limitations is admirable. The author, Erika Sanchez, has produced a remarkable coming-of-age story of a city girl faced with extreme poverty, with immigrant parents who have had their own severe trauma; Julia must struggle to survive emotionally and intellectually. There are strong comparisons in Julia’s story with the protagonists in novels like On the Wings of a Hummingbird by Susan Mills and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. If you are considering purchasing this book, your money will not be wasted.

Muy buen libro

Julias ältere Schwester Olga schreibt beim überqueren der Straße eine Nachricht mit ihrem Handy und wird dabei von einem Auto erfasst. Die in Chicago lebende Familie fällt nach diesem Todesfall in ein tiefes Loch der Trauer und die vorher schon triste Familiendynamik gerät noch mehr in Schieflage. Julia ist genervt von ihrer Familie und hungrig nach einem anderen Leben. Ihre Mutter versucht sie in ein antiquiertes Frauenideal zu zwängen, ihr Vater verbringt seinen Feierabend vor dem Fernseher und der Rest der Familie ist auch eher unangenehm. Olga schien zu Lebenszeiten den an sie gestellten Erwartungen gerecht zu werden. Als Julia einige unerwartete Dinge in Olgas Zimmer findet, beginnt diese an der Fassade ihrer Schwester zu zweifeln und begibt sich auf die Suche nach ihrer „wahren“ Schwester. Erika L. Sánchez schafft es die Perspektive eines Teenagers zu treffen, der zwischen Familientraditionen und einer neuen Welt seinen Platz sucht. Auch wenn die Familie hier aus Mexiko kommt, kann man dieses Gefühl kulturell „zwischen den Stühlen“ zu sitzen gut nachempfinden. Ähnlich wie beim Fänger im Roggen ist die Hauptfigur nicht einfach zu mögen, die Entscheidungen werden von versteckten Emotionen blockiert. Das macht diese Geschichte jedoch so authentisch.

Good for young kids.

Den Inhalt möchte ich hier nicht wiederholen. Er ist in der Beschreibung zu finden. Der Schreibstil ist flüssig, und auch für Nicht-Englischmuttersprachler recht gut zu verstehen, da es sich um ein Jugendbuch handelt. Die Autorin lässt manchmal ein spanisches Wort einfließen, schließlich sind alle Charaktere Mexican Americans. Das stört aber nicht, weil es bekannte Wörter wie señora oder sie erklärt das Wort anschließend. Das Buch gibt ein eindrückliches Bild davon, wie eine Familie mit dem Tod einer Tochter/Schwester umgeht, wie die vermeintliche Idealvorstellung einer Tochter aussieht und was es heißt, als Tochter einer mexikanischen Mutter aufzuwachsen. Das Buch hat mir wirklich gut gefallen! Ausgabe/Format: Für das Format möchte ich eigentlich 2 Sterne abziehen, aber 3 Sterne sind für den Roman zu wenig! Die Fotos zeigen, wie klein die Ausgabe ist (ca. 10x8 cm/ungefähr Din A 6). Das Format passt also in jede Tasche, was an sich nicht schlecht ist, aber sehr ungewöhnlich. Noch störender empfand ich die Innenseiten. Ich hatte mich schon gewundert, dass das Buch über 600 Seiten hat. Das liegt daran, dass das Buch um 90° gedreht werden muss und eine Doppelseite dann von oben nach unten beschrieben ist. Man klappt also von unten nach oben um, nicht von rechts nach links. Die Blätter sind pergamentdünn, wie bei einem Telefonbuch. So klappt man häufig zwei Seiten um und vor allem, scheint häufig die nächste Seite schon durch. Der Druck wurde auch nicht gründlich gesetzt oder anschließend nicht mehr kontrolliert, immer wieder fehlen Leerzeichen und zwei Wörter sind zusammengeschrieben, was in einer Fremdsprache noch verwirrender ist als in der Muttersprache. In einer anderen Ausgabe hätte ich dem Buch 5* gegeben!

The book is amazing and it came on time and it was in great shape.