Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika L. Sánchez is a compelling coming-of-age young adult novel that thoughtfully explores themes of grief, mental health and the complexities of growing up as the daughter of immigrant parents while still incorporating humor and subplots of romance and mystery.

The book follows Julia Reyes, a 15-year old girl living in Chicago. She is a witty and outspoken character who refuses to be molded into the perfect Mexican daughter her parents so badly want her to be. Just like her sister Olga whose funeral is the opening scene of the novel.

Julia’s parents and relatives see her as a rebellious girl with a smart mouth. Others see her as an obnoxious girl who thinks she’s better than everybody because she does not partake in the usual teen activities.

However, Julia is ultimately an ambitious teenager who fears falling short on her goals and dreams of being an independent woman with a successful writing career and walking the streets of new places.

The novel resonates deeply with Mexican-American daughters because it captures the pressure immigrant daughters face when it comes to cultural norms and breaking free from them while trying to create their own identity.

Julia’s experiences in the book are a reflection of expectations that are typically placed on daughters in Mexican or Hispanic households.

The novel shows how daughters are expected to be family-oriented individuals that stay close to home and that they should be happy with just getting married, building a family and living a Catholic devoted life.

This section of the novel also references Mexican traditions, food, culture and usage of slang to make the story feel more authentic and relatable for Mexican-American readers. These details allow readers to see their own families and lived experiences within the book.

“I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” also focuses on mental health, focusing especially on depression and anxiety through the eyes of an immigrant daughter.

Feeling misunderstood by her parents, friends and everyone else around her on top of the grief and frustration she feels with the death of her sister Olga and numerous family secrets, Julia struggles to navigate her emotions.

Her mental state only worsens throughout the story, which begins to further hurt her relationship with her parents and her friends Lorena and Juanga.

Anxiety and depression also affect her relationship with her love interest Conner, who was one of the only people in the book to make her laugh and feel genuine joy.

The novel ends with Julia leaving Chicago to head towards her new school.

With the mystery of her sister Olga’s double-life solved, her relationship with her friends and family mended and her life on the brighter side, Julia enters a new chapter of her life, leaving readers pleased and wanting more.