Julia Reyes is 15 when this novel opens, and her older sister Olga has just died in an accident that Julia partially blames herself for. Olga seemed to be the perfect Mexican daughter; she wanted to stay home with family, was content with community college, helped their mother out. Julia, on the other hand, wants to leave home to go to college and become a writer, has a rocky relationship with her mother, and chafes against the restrictions her parents (especially her mother) place on her. Everything gets worse after Olga’s death and Julia and her parents struggle to cope, and Julia’s mental health deteriorates. Meanwhile she is also trying to uncover unexpected secrets that Olga seemed to be hiding.
I thought the author really nailed the teenage voice. Her characterization of Julia was also very clear; Julia can be abrasive and judgmental, and it was clear why she tended to rub others the wrong way. The author also did a great job addressing the mental health concerns, handling the issue with care and respect, and the therapy portrayal was well done.
I tend to connect most to YA books when they’re fantasies, and I wasn’t the target audience for this one. While this at times affected my enjoyment of and engagement with the novel, I could respect the story that was being told. This is a banned book that I read as part of a banned books book club, and I could recognize the content in it that censors would object to, but it’s an important novel that should be in all libraries. There are probably a lot of teenagers who would find it both helpful and relatable, and I do recommend it. 3.75 stars rounded up.
