Julia’s older and much more responsible sister, Olga, is hit and killed tragically by a semi-truck. In Olga’s absence, Julia is left to deal with this loss beside her two immigrant parents—her mother, who strongly preferred Olga’s good behavior over Julia’s, and her father, whose emotional unavailability and working-class life seem too different from her own. Not long after Olga’s death, Julia suddenly discovers evidence that Olga wasn’t as perfect as she seemed, so she is determined to find out who her sister really was. Along the way, Julia navigates a new relationship with her first ever boyfriend, Connor, as well as the tumultuous connection to her best friend from childhood, Lorena.
Julia is a brilliant and savvy narrator, whose love of reading and writing combined with her mature and sassy observations make her one of the best narrators readers will encounter this year. Sánchez weaves in references to literature and poetry that feel natural and not at all forced, and she really brings the city of Chicago to life. While this book is a tad overlong, it does such a terrific job exploring authentic mental health concerns, the challenge of being a child of immigrants, and the beauty and difficulty of growing up as a teenager in Chicago. This book was a 2017 National Book Award finalist.
Call # Fiction Sa553ia
Review by Vicki
Posted by Pietrus Victoria at 2:53 pm