Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication: October 17, 2017
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Print ARC
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Blurb:
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 kiss, 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?
Review:
Honestly, my first thought during the first few pages was that I wasn’t going to like Julia. She’s very cynical and I find it hard to like characters like that. They resemble me too much for my liking. I know that sounds hypocritical but when characters are like me, I tend not to like them. (Yes, I find it hard to love myself.) During the course of the novel, I found myself sympathizing and caring for our dear main character. I started understanding why she was the way she was and in the end I was able to find that connection I crave in a story.
Anyways, Julia has just lost her big sister, Olga, in a freak accident. It’s tragic and sad. Julia judged her older sister in the way she dressed and the way she went about living a simple life. Why would a person settle for something less when the world could be yours for the taking? But did her sister have a secret life that her family knew nothing about? The story also centers on perfection. What is it to you? Julia feels as she fails in comparison to her sister in every way. And by that I mean, she’s the “perfect” daughter. She doesn’t go out and get into trouble. She cooks and cleans and does what she is told. Julia on the other hand, is crude and more of a wild child. Once you get to a certain place in the book, it’s realized where all the anger and resentment come from.
It’s no wonder Julia doesn’t feel like she measures up. I get it and I could beat myself up for ever having had bad thoughts about Julia. This is a great story that touches on so many subjects in today’s world. I enjoyed watching a character immensely grow right before my eyes. Readers, you’re in for a huge treat when following Julia on her journey filled with grief, pain, and ultimately hope.
*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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