• I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

  • By: Erika L. Sánchez
  • Narrated by: Kyla Garcia
  • Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (6,338 ratings)

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I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter  By  cover art

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

By: Erika L. Sánchez
Narrated by: Kyla Garcia
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Editorial reviews

Editors Select, October 2017

In the midst of some huge life changes, this is the story that finally grabbed my focus and gave me that I’m-in-love-with-this-book feeling again. It has such a great hook: After Julia’s "perfect" older sister dies, she discovers Olga was leading a secret double life. But what I loved most is how it presents a day in the life of a very relatable, fully realized teenage girl. Julia fights with her parents, adores her English teacher, navigates social dramas, and is very opinionated about books and music. And the narrator is amazing - she uses the PERFECT inflections for a cynical teenage girl as well as an impressive roster of supporting characters. —Rachel, Audible Editor

Publisher's summary

National Book Award for Young People's Literature

Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “stunning” (America Ferrera) YA novel about a teenager coming to terms with losing her sister and finding herself amid the pressures, expectations, and stereotypes of growing up in a Mexican American home.

“Alive and crackling—a gritty tale wrapped in a page-turner.”—The New York Times

Perfect Mexican daughters do not go away to college. And they do not move out of their parents’ house after high school graduation. Perfect Mexican daughters never abandon their family.

But Julia is not your perfect Mexican daughter. That was Olga’s role.

Then a tragic accident on the busiest street in Chicago leaves Olga dead and Julia left behind to reassemble the shattered pieces of her family. And no one seems to acknowledge that Julia is broken, too. Instead, her mother seems to channel her grief into pointing out every possible way Julia has failed.

But it’s not long before Julia discovers that Olga might not have been as perfect as everyone thought. With the help of her best friend Lorena, and her first love, first everything boyfriend Connor, Julia is determined to find out. Was Olga really what she seemed? Or was there more to her sister’s story? And either way, how can Julia even attempt to live up to a seemingly impossible ideal?

©2017 Erika L. Sánchez (P)2017 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“I fell in love with Erika L. Sánchez’ stunning novel....The depth, wit and searing intelligence of her writing, and her young Latina heroine, struck me to my core and left me wanting so much more."—America Ferrera, Emmy award-winning actress in Ugly Betty

“This book will change everything. . . . A perfect book about imperfection.”—Juan Felipe Herrera, Poet Laureate of the United States

“Unique and fresh.”Entertainment Weekly

Featured Article: The Best YA Audiobooks for Listeners of All Ages


Young adult audiobooks offer some of the most affecting, original stories that, despite the genre’s name, make an excellent choice for all listeners. Unforgettably poignant coming-of-age stories, hopeful tales of youth resistance, and brave teens reckoning with questions that stump even the wisest adults are at the heart of this exceptional genre. Our list features diverse characters and ensembles that will make it impossible to press pause.

What listeners say about I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

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This was a GREAT book

I loved how it showed what people are and what I want to think it. Is like but this got this in one book

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loved this book ❤

loved this book
introducing story and great reader.
can't wait to get more like this

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Phenomenal!

Literally the best read I have completed in such a long time! I could not put the book down even if I wanted to. The audio was read perfectly. I'm usually not a fan of audiobooks but I decided to give this a go and I do not regret it one bit. The story is so relatable that it brought me to tears. I 100% recommend this book to anyone.

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JORGE you roll the R

I can't believe that a narrator reading the intricacies of pronouncing the spanish version of Julia as who lee ah would turn around and pronounce Jorge like some gavacha. That is not ok you roll the r, and pronounce it XOR:xeh, not HOR:hey. If I were reading an american book yeah but this book has a very specific audience. If you're reading this Kyla I hope you know I'm pronouncing your name as KEE LAH not kai lah naca.

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Well written and well read!

This book dives into different issues that go on in the Hispanic community that lives in the United States of America. It also briefly talks about the cartel issues in Mexico. The main character is torn between being true to herself or being true to the traditional way of thinking in the Mexican culture. Definitely a well written multilayered book.

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Beautifully honest

I loved everything about this book, except finishing it. Erika did an amazing job capturing the life, struggle, and beauty of a young Latina finding her way. Definitely a must read!

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Great to get students reading

Good book; language off for middle school; high school ok. Students wanted to dig deeper; Great discussion in reading circlle

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Recommended to Teenagers

This is a great book for young girls to read. It’s a bit too whiny for me, as an adult. However, I found myself tapping into my teenage self while reading this book. I went thru a handful of emotions over the course of this story. Pass it on!

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someone like me...

A book I can see myself in. A book about our narrative here in the states. A book for young Latinas to relate to. We need more of these types of books that talk about our experiences here in our nepantla.

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Beautifully written.

I love everything about this. I related to everything so hard. It was as if I wrote it. I not only will own a digital copy now but I’m going to go get a hard copy and hopefully one day have Erika sign it for me. As a first generation Mexican here in the US it makes my heart to happy to see a fellow Latinx succeed. I don’t know Erika but I’m proud of her.

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