I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

Name: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
Author: Erika L. Sánchez

Read with caution

Some content parents may want to preview or discuss.

Published: 2017
Ages: 14–18

About the book

A teenage girl in Chicago struggles to live up to her family's expectations after her seemingly perfect older sister dies.

AI summary

A teenage girl in Chicago struggles to live up to her family's expectations after her seemingly perfect older sister dies.

Why parents choose this book

What makes I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter worth choosing

An honest, parent-first look at who this book suits, what it offers, and what to know before you buy.

Best for

Age range: 14–18 (fits siblings across a range).
Reading maturity: Young adult — teen protagonists and more nuanced themes.
Kids who tend to love it: Contemporary.
Personality fit: kids ages 14–18 who enjoy a good story.

Parents love this book because

Written by Erika L. Sánchez, whose books parents return to for consistently thoughtful storytelling.

Your child will probably enjoy I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter if they…

Enjoy stories written for kids around ages 14–18

This book helps develop

Vocabulary, sustained attention, and reading confidence for the 14–18 age band.

Things parents should know

Violence: cartoonish or off-page action.
Language: occasional mild words for the older end of the band.
Sexual content: references or fade-to-black moments.

Reading commitment

Estimated reading time

Varies by reader

Length

Length varies by edition

Difficulty

Young adult

Works as read-aloud

Usually read independently

Good for independent readers

Yes — suits confident readers in the age band

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Why we recommend it

We recommend I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter for the 14–18 age band with a small heads-up on content — worth previewing or discussing. It leans into contemporary in a way that feels genuine, not formulaic. Erika L. Sánchez's voice is what makes it stick: readable, respectful of kids, and easy to hand to the next child in the family.