In I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER, Julia Reyes lives with her parents and older sister, Olga, in a Chicago neighborhood filled with graffiti, gangs, and cockroaches. Sanchez really digs into the relationship between immigrant Mexican parents who are firm in tradition and first generation children who are 'Americanized.' Julia's parents struggle to hold on to and instill values and traditions into her as she veers away, striving for the better life they came to America to find. The book has very strong language repeatedly throughout and addresses mature issues such as sex, abortion, infidelity, attempted suicide, mental illness, drinking, and drug use. This coming of age story offers hope where often times there is not a glimmer in sight.Īs an educator and parent, the youngest age I would be comfortable recommending this book to would be 18 unless the parent reads it ahead of time and knows what his/her child is able to handle. The author depicts the rarely seen or known passion and dedication of teachers and the difference they make in the life of students. This book offers insights into the rich Mexican culture as well as the realities and hardships associated with immigration, poverty, and death. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is a 2017 National Book Award nominee. People die in the desert while illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, a teen is beaten for being gay, and a character attempts suicide. Violence includes a gun battle between drug dealers in Mexico and the slaughter of a pig described in some detail and mention that a woman was raped.

There's profanity (including 'f-k,' and 's-t'), and a girl has sex, but it's not described in explicit detail.

As Julia tries to uncovers her sister's secrets, she also discovers the secrets that have made her parents so fearful of Julia building a different life for herself. But after Olga is killed in an accident, Julia discovers that her sister may not have been as saintly as everyone believed.

Sanchez's I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is the story of Julia Reyes, a smart, brash, and rebellious teen who lives in a gritty Chicago neighborhood with her parents and her stay-at-home sister, Olga, who never gives her parents any trouble. Drug lords and their feuds are a problem in the area of Mexico where Julia's relatives live.ĭid you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. Teens smoke marijuana and get drunk at parties.

Not your perfect mexican daughter