We also see her face mental health struggles, and ultimately, we see how Olga’s death has affected Julia and her parents. We get to see her make mistakes and learn from them. We get to see how generational trauma has affected her relationship with her mother. This allows readers to experience first hand what Julia, a Mexican American teen girl has faced within her culture. The story, however, mostly focuses on Julia.

This left the reader questioning what the plot truly was. This often felt strange, because Julia was intent on finding out the secret, but it was set aside for other plots. At times, this big secret seemed like an afterthought for the main character. However, the secret about her sister did not naturally progress with Julia’s own life. She has hopes and dreams that her parents believe are unattainable, which causes a lot of tension between Julia and her mother.Īfter the funeral, Julia discovers a few strange things in Olga’s room that makes her question whether her sister truly was the “Perfect Mexican Daughter.” As the story progresses, Julia begins to discover who her sister truly was. She refuses to live a mediocre life like her sister. She is disobedient, wants to be a writer, and is set on attending a university away from home. Julia is the complete opposite of her sister. Her passing affects Julia’s mother and now without her sister, Julia is the center of her mother’s attention. Olga was seen as the “Perfect Mexican Daughter.” She was obedient, she studied at the local community college, worked in an office, and ultimately never left home. Julia and Olga are two Mexican American sisters who live with their undocumented parents. The book begins with Olga’s funeral after she was run over by a semi.

Sanchez follows Julia as she tries to navigate life after her sister, Olga’s, passing. The novel, I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughterby Erika L.

I am not your perfect mexican daughter