I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is a powerful and captivating exploration of what it means to be a first-generation Latina teen struggling to reconcile cultural expectations, overcome obstacles, and become who she is meant to be. After her older sister dies in a tragic accident, fifteen-year-old Julia must figure out how she will live without her, and live with her parents’ expectations of a “perfect” daughter. In the process, Julia learns to understand more of who her sister really was and why her parents are the way they are. She also discovers that maybe she and her sister had more in common than she might have presumed. Through Julia, the author explores cultural, economic, and personal issues (like depression) in an honest and thoughtful manner. The characters are vivid and raw even though at times Julia is not the most likable character, but she is strong, fearless, and resilient. The story is very well written and descriptive. I strongly recommend this book for anyone, especially young women 14 and up. I think they will find much to relate to in Julia. I cannot say enough about how wonderful this book is! Read it.