This year I’ve successfully finished reading one book. I am not sure yet what my goal is this year as I do want to set a lofty goal but I also want to be realistic. Mulling it over, I think my goal is going to be 26 books. If I go over it? Even better.

Another literary goal I set out for myself is to exclusively read women writers this year.

Last night, I finished reading I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER by Erika L. Sanchez. I’d venture to say that I finished it in almost one sitting. This book is a beautiful and powerful read. The protagonist, Julia, is multi-dimensional and incredibly well-written. It’s been a decade since I was Julia’s age but her teenage attitude and perspective is completely realistic and it very much took me back to being that age.

Overall, most of the characters in I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER are fleshed out–even Olga who is the deceased sister. However, Connor fell flat to me. His character initially left a sour taste in my mouth after he asks Julia where she’s really from. I find Connor two-dimensional because I never got a good idea of what his wants or desires were and he was simply a rich kid with not much else.

However, characters like Lorena, Juanga, and of course Julia liven this novel. It’s a wonderful coming-of-age novel and what that can mean in the context of Mexican-American culture. I deeply wish this book had existed when I was a teenager because Julia’s family and mine were very similar.

Furthermore, I love that this book did not shy from mental illness especially because it is often such a taboo subject among Latin American culture. I also appreciated that Julia’s parents did not react in a stereotypical manner to Julia’s depression and anxiety.

In the end, I’d recommend this marvelous novel to anyone both young adult and older.