Monday, March 10, 2025

Hispanic/Latinx Literature Book Review: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez

 

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Sánchez, Erika L. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. 2017. New York, Ember, 5 Mar. 2019.

 

PLOT SUMMARY:

 After a tragic accident Julia’s older sister, Olga, is killed. Then, Julia is expected to fill the role of the primary daughter which includes many responsibilities. But Julia is struggling to grieve her sister’s loss and live up to her sister’s role. Julia has hope and dreams and aspirations. Does she have to put these aside to fulfill her new role? This book is a beautiful read about a family’s experiences during one of the hardest days of their lives.

 

CRITICAL REVIEW:

This book is colorful, descriptive and paints a vivid picture of this family’s story. There are specific cultural issues that transpire in this book relating to this character. These issues are unique to a Mexican daughter’s role in a family. There are specific cultural markers in this book like how this family interacts and spends time with each other (like braiding hair), food they eat (like Mexican cookies) and there is Spanish interspersed throughout this book.

 

AWARDS:

2018 Tomas Rivera Award Winner – Young Adult

2018 YALSA Teens’ Top Ten Winner

International Latino Book Awards – 2nd Place Winner 2017

2017 National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature

SLJ Best Books of the Year

Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection

 

CONNECTIONS: 

This book is a masterpiece of expectations and realities of families. This book is specific to a Mexican family. Students can reflect on how this issue affects them in their lives. This could be a good way to see someone else’s perspective or a way to validate our own struggles and experiences.

 

Book Review by Barbara Jean Thompson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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