I am pretty sure you can guess what this book is about just based on the title, it’s about a Mexican daughter who isn’t perfect. This book didn’t go the way I thought it would go, so here is an overview so no one gets bamboozled like me.

The book starts out at a funeral. Julia’s older sister, Olga, had died. Julia is still in a sort of shock, she’s not upset, just sad. While at the funeral, she sees all this family who never actually knew Olga. It makes her frustrated, but really makes Julia wonder if she knew her sister.

The book continues with Julia going into her sister’s room, but finding something she wasn’t expecting. I’m not going to go into detail because I don’t want to spoil the book, but let’s just say that she found something VERY awkward for any family member to find, let alone a latina girl.

After that, with the help of her best friend, Lorena, and Lorena’s friend, who let’s just say Julia didn’t love, Juanga, Julia digs deeper into her mysterious sister. All the while, she’s being berated and heckled by her mother for not being enough, not being perfect. 

Additionally, there is a super cute side romance between Julia and a boy she meets at a used bookshop. They are just adorable and have a decently healthy relationship.

This book was a pretty good read. I recommend it for teens older 14 or older because some of what the author tackles is more mature. There is also a lot of cursing. I think this book was deeper than you would expect, because it discusses pressure put on children born from immigrant families. I believe that the book would also be more confusing if you don’t speak Spanish or don’t have any experience in Hispanic households. Overall, a good read that can be enhanced by personal experiences.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.