I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez
CHARACTERS: The main character in the book is Julia Reyes, a 15-year-old girl who just lost her sister. Julia is portrayed as a complex, flawed, and realistic Latina teenager. She consistently challenges the “perfect Mexican daughter” stereotype by rebelling against her parents' wishes and standards. Her family members and friends also are presented as nuanced. Her mother shows care and rigidity in their relationship, while her best friend shows carelessness and support in some instances.
The story captures the experience of being a first-generation Mexican American teenager who is navigating two different cultures and expectations. Her family pressures her to abide by gender roles and personal expectations that they had to abide by when they were growing up. We also see Julia and her family explore grief in their own cultural context. Julia feels a bit more out of her element, while her father appears to move on quickly and her mother consistently compares Julia with her dead sister.
The characters are described in ways that authentically reflect Latinx American identities. Julia is presented as an intelligent, curious, and ambitious girl. She has a love for writing and wants to further her education, seeing it as a way out of her current life. Her curiosity is driven by the death of her sister and figuring out the secret she was hiding. The Reyes family is portrayed as working-class, this is reflective with immigrant families who do not have a formal education, or whose formal education does not transfer to America.
In this story there are no distinct villains, there is conflict that arises from family dynamics and cultural expectations. Julia consistently sees her family as her own “villians” until she begins to understand their motives for their actions.
Julia interacts with other characters from different racial and cultural backgrounds in her school and in her city life. One of the major interactions she has is with another character named Conner. Conner is a White teenager boy who comes from a wealthier family and lives in a different part of the city. Julia spends some of her time reflecting on the differences between both of them.
SETTING: The book is set in modern-day Chicago and is reflective of current environments. We see Julia’s day to day settings like school, her home life, and the details of her urban life.
The setting also portrays a working-class Mexican American family who lives in a large urban city. Julia’s family lives in a small apartment that is realistic for the jobs her mom and dad work. The reader is taken through the contrasting settings of her traditional home life and her American school and social life. Later in the book we see scenes in Mexico, which helps provide Julia with some insight on her cultural roots and family background.
CULTURAL VALUES: The book provides an in-depth look at Mexican American family life and includes food, traditions, and routines. The reader also sees the specific family expectations between Julia and her family, their religious influences, and her community dynamics. Since Julia’s parents immigrated from Mexico to America, we do get a small backstory that ties in their experience and the differences they faced.
The story features accurate depictions of the Mexican American culture. There is an incorporation of Spanish words and phrases that reflect the bilingualism that occurs in many households. The characters are dressed in modern, urban clothing. Most of the clothes that Julia discusses in the book is due to their working-class finances. There is a major emphasis on family responsibilities, education, reputation, and sacrifice in the book. This becomes a central point of conflict for Julia and her family.
The writing highlights the diversity within the Latinx community and experience. Julia is friends with other people who are also Latinx, but they live very different experiences. The book encourages readers to appreciate different cultural perspectives and lived experiences, while also providing validation to voices that help challenge stereotypes.
OVERALL QUALITY: The story encourages deep reflection on personal identity, family expectations, grief, and mental health. Readers are able to analyze Julia’s growth and the change in her perspectives over time. It helps to connect real-world issues to the story and make it more relevant for teenage readers.
The book falls into the genre of young adult realistic fiction by showing strong character development in an authentic teen voice. Complex topics are addressed like mental health, sexuality, and cultural identity with honesty and depth. The writing style is engaging and relatable, while also evoking emotion from readers.
The narrative is told in first-person from the perspective of a teenage girl. Readers get to experience Julia’s thoughts and emotions in fast-paced short chapters. This helps make the book more interesting and accessible for young adult readers. The dialogue between characters is very realistic and reflects authentic teenage interactions between peers and adults.
REVIEWS AND AWARDS:
- School Library Journal, 2017: “...this novel richly explores coming-of-age topics; a timely and must-have account of survival in a culturally contentious world.”
National Book Award Finalist, 2017
Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Winner, 2018
William C. Morris Award Finalist, 2017
After reading the book, students can create their own personal identity map based around their culture, family, interests, language, and values.
After reading the book students can watch Real Women Have Curves and compare Julia to Carmen.
Students can write a letter to Julia giving her advice centered around key moments in the book.
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