The Expression Hub

Author: Erika Sanchez

Genre: Young adult literature, Domestic fiction

“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness, will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

-Brene Brown

Have you been a rebel in your life ? Has there been any practices which you might have found very outrageous and yet your parents have asked you to follow it? But instead of following it to the T, you have ended up breaking the rules ? Well, if you have done that a lot of times, then I would love to hear your experiences about the same in the comments section. As far as I am concerned, I have done it a lot of times especially when I was growing up and still continue to do so if I do not find the rationale convincing. Some may call it a rebellious behavior while for some it may be a form of assertiveness while for some it may be an act of boldness. But the thing is when one does not accept the status quo as it is and does end up questioning things around him or her, it is then that you awaken the ability to change the world bit by bit if not entirely. The world is supposed to be a beautiful place yet there are practices and conventions which prevent the world from becoming one. So, when you want to create an impact around you, the very first thing I personally feel you undertake is try to observe the surroundings and then start questioning why does this take place or why does this happen? And after the questioning phase, you take actions which decide whether what is happening around you is right or wrong. Though, you cannot change people , but even though you start bringing small changes in you , you do feel a sense of accomplishment.Apart from that, you do start understanding yourself as a person well. And isn’t all the world’s wisdom, knowledge supposed to reside within us?

The reason why I am talking about being a rebel is because the pick which we are going to discuss this week has a very rebellious nature and wants to carve an identity for herself.Does this narrative sound familiar? It does because that is what people who are eager to change the world do isn’t it ?

About the book: ‘I am not your perfect Mexican daughter’ revolves around the life of Julia Reyes, who is a 15 year old girl residing in Chicago with her conservative Spanish family. She has recently lost her elder sister Olga to an accident and locks horns against her mother due to difference in opinions. On top of that, she is expected to take forward the docile daughter legacy which her sister Olga prided upon. A thing which she is entirely against the idea of. The reason being she really can’t stand the way traditional Mexican women behave. She is a girl who believes girls need to have a certain autonomy in their own lives . And she is not wrong in her thought process. After all, a girl’s life is subject to a lot of scrutiny. From the clothes she is supposed to wear, to the choices she is supposed to make to the skills she is supposed to know.

Supporting her, is her friend since childhood, Lorena who is more of the wild sort and loves to live in the moment . But considering the circumstances, will Julia be able to break free from the shackles and create the live she has always wanted? Or will she have to bow down to the conventions which have been the norm ?

Analysis: This is a book that tries to understand the mindset of a 15 year old teenage girl. It revolves around a lot of topics as well which are prevalent like mental health issues, teenage pregnancy( this is a huge affair in the Western parts of the world), privacy issues, freedom , discovering one self , the pressure of fitting in , the rebellious nature , being vocal about the things which you have always believed in etc. When you read through the book, you do find that life of a girl in the Western world especially if they belong to a conservative family is very similar to the lives of the girls in my country.

Julia was a complete misfit in her family because she challenged the status quo and believed in herself though the outer world failed to understand her. Her constant arguments with her mother might seem childish due to the age group she was in, but actually were her observations about how things were in the status quo. Her parents wanted her to become a person who worked in an office but she wanted to be a writer . This facet highlights the conflict between the practicalities and the passion of life a person has. As the book progresses, shocking details are revealed about the protagonist’s sister who was always supposed to be the perfect daughter of the family. This also highlights the fact that the golden child of the family might not be always the golden one .

The only negative thing about the book is that there are a lot of sexual references , a thing which is pretty normal in the Western world but can be problematic for some especially those who are averse to the idea.

Verdict: An interesting read which highlights a lot of issues a female faces. But despite the problems faced, the protagonist tries to discover her sense of self and challenge the status quo. This is a book which will resonate a lot with the people who have always questioned their surroundings and always had a strong belief in one’s own self despite the self doubt. Though it can be a bit dramatic , but I guess real life is supposed to be one big drama as well isn’t it? Do read to explore the mindset of an adolescent girl who goes through a lot considering the tender age she is supposed to be in . Do read it also for the bonding Julia and her crazy friend Lorena share. And most importantly , do read it for knowing the fact that the golden child is not always golden.Even they do have their own share of struggles and secrets. And that the supposedly black sheep or the misfit is right in his or her own way though their functioning might be a bit unconventional.

Rating: ***

Cite Bite: “Everything changes, for better or worse, whether we like it or not. Sometimes it’s beautiful, and sometimes it fills us with terror. Sometimes both.”

Que: What is the name of the gay classmate that Lorena and Julia share?

a. Castillo

b. Jose Luis

c. Ramiro

d. Juanga