I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez

Julia Reyes is a 15-year-old that is grieving because her sister was recently killed by a bus. Julia's parents are undocumented immigrants and over-protective, especially now that her sister Olga has died. On top of this, she is seldom allowed to leave the house leading to issues with her mother, who then accuses Julia of harboring inappropriate items like condoms. Soon, she is restricted from seeing her boyfriend, Connor, who is unable to support her through her depression and anxiety. Next, Julia finds herself awake in a psychiatric unit after attempting to take her own life. Her parents decide to send Julia to Mexico to be with her grandmother despite her objections. However, in Mexico, she discovers things about her parents that highlight why her parents are so protective. When she returns from Mexico, Julia learns of her acceptance to New York University on a full scholarship. Despite Kirkus Reviews' negative review that stated Julia is "unlikable" and "the first-generation Mexican American teen fails to deliver as a coming-of-age journey," it is a relatable and moving experience about mental illness, grief, and personal growth. ("After the death," 2017)

Critical Analysis

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is a realistic fiction novel that is consistent with contemporary time, and the plot is easy to follow. The main character, Julia, is intelligent, self-determined, and compassionate. Themes include suicide, death, grief, mental illness, friendship, and family. Julia's cultural experiences are authentic in comparison to the experiences of adolescents. The story is rich in cultural details that accurately depict the issues in the lives of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., traditional gender roles for women, and religious references from Catholic beliefs like La Virgen de Guadalupe. Equally, there are descriptions of customs like quinceaneras, the use of the Spanish language like "viejas," "huevona," and "tio," and references to Mexican foods like Chihuahuan cheese, quesadillas, horchata, tacos de asada, and tortillas. Overall, Sanchez's book meets the criteria for a contemporary realistic story, especially regarding present-day teenage issues, language, beliefs, trends, music, pop culture, and dress. Sanchez won the 2018 Thomas Rivera award in the Young Adult category for I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

The story's strength is that it tells a contemporary story relatable to Latinx culture and most youth cultures today. Its weakness is that the language and behaviors depicted may be inappropriate for some younger readers. Readers may enjoy Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera, which covers similar Latinx themes surrounding families and contemporary issues for young adults, such as sexual orientation.

References

"After the death". (2017, October 17). I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/erika-l-sanchez/i-am-not-your-perfect-mexican-daughter/

Sánchez Erika L. (2017). I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. Random House Children's Books.