I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
Author: Erika L. Sánchez
Format: Paperback – March 5, 2019
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (10,343 reviews), 4.0 on Goodreads (75,049 ratings)
Awards: New York Times Bestseller, National Book Award Finalist

Overview:
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is a powerful and emotionally charged young adult novel by Erika L. Sánchez that explores themes of identity, family, loss, and self-acceptance within the context of growing up in a Mexican-American household. The story follows Julia, a teenage girl struggling to find her own path while dealing with the recent death of her sister Olga and the overwhelming expectations placed on her by her family and culture.

Plot Summary:

Julia is not the "perfect Mexican daughter" her mother always dreamed of. That role was meant for Olga, her older sister, who was the epitome of what a perfect Mexican daughter should be: obedient, dutiful, and focused on family. However, when a tragic accident takes Olga's life on a busy Chicago street, Julia is left behind to navigate the emotional and cultural chaos that ensues.

While her mother focuses solely on her grief and criticizes Julia for not living up to the ideal, Julia feels unseen and misunderstood. But as she begins to unravel the mystery of her sister's life, she discovers that Olga may not have been as perfect as everyone thought. Julia, with the help of her best friend Lorena and her first love, Connor, embarks on a journey to understand the real Olga and find her own identity along the way.

Themes:

• Cultural Expectations vs. Personal Identity: Julia grapples with the rigid cultural norms of her Mexican-American upbringing, where perfection is expected, especially for daughters. She must figure out how to be true to herself while dealing with these societal pressures.
• Grief and Loss: The novel explores the impact of losing a loved one, particularly a sister, and how that grief can manifest in complicated ways within a family.
• Family Dynamics: Julia's relationship with her mother is fraught with tension as her mother's grief is channeled into unrealistic expectations for Julia to fill the void left by Olga.
• Self-Discovery: At its core, the book is about Julia’s journey of self-discovery—finding out who she is outside of the role that others want her to play.

Critical Reception:

The book has been praised for its raw and authentic portrayal of the struggles faced by a young Mexican-American girl navigating family expectations, grief, and the challenges of growing up. It resonates with readers who have dealt with similar pressures or have experienced the complexity of identity formation in a multicultural world.

Summary:
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is an insightful and poignant exploration of the life of a young Mexican-American woman trying to break free from the societal and familial expectations that define her. With sharp wit, humor, and a compelling narrative, Erika L. Sánchez captures the complexities of grief, identity, and self-acceptance in this heartfelt coming-of-age story. Through Julia’s journey, the novel challenges the concept of perfection and invites readers to embrace their true selves, no matter how imperfect.