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Julia dreams that she is a mermaid stuck in the water, all because of Olga. This dream suggests that Julia is being prevented from completing her grief process because of unknown aspects of Olga's nature.

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The work frequently has a sardonic, cynical tone because of Julia's narrative. Since Julia is still in shock over the loss of her older sister Olga, the mood is solemn and contemplative.

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Julia is completely different from her sister. She is defiant, aspiring to become a writer, and determined to go to a university far from home. She rejects the idea of living a mundane life like her sister. Julia's parents think her hopes and dreams are impossible, leading to tension between her and her mother.

Following the funeral, Julia uncovers some peculiar items in Olga's room that lead her to doubt if her sister really lived up to the title of the "Perfect Mexican Daughter." Throughout the course of the narrative, Julia starts to uncover the true identity of her sister. Nonetheless, Julia's sister's secret did not seamlessly integrate into Julia's life. Occasionally, the main character viewed this significant secret as a minor detail. This frequently seemed odd to Julia as she was focused on uncovering the secret, but it was overshadowed by other storylines. This made the reader unsure of the real nature of the plot.

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“It’s easier to be pissed, though. If I stop being angry, I’m afraid I’ll fall apart until I’m just a warm mound of flesh on the floor.”
― Erika L. Sánchez, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

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“How do we tie our shoes, brush our hair, drink coffee, wash the dishes, and go to sleep, pretending everything is fine? How do we laugh and feel happiness despite the buried things growing inside? How can we do that day after day?”
― Erika L. Sánchez, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

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The book's turning point is Julia's attempt at suicide. Julia's parents become aware of just how badly their daughter is battling with her mental health for the first time. They make an effort to get her the assistance she requires, and Julia gains from their greater focus.

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“Can I miss people I’ve never met? Because I think I do.”
― Erika L. Sánchez, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

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Julia lives in a Chicago neighborhood that is primarily made up of Hispanic people. Because of how frequently street violence occurs, she used to feel safer playing on the streets of her neighborhood than in Los Ojos, Mexico, the hometown of her family, which is controlled by drug lords. As a high school student, Julia's daily existence is characterized by the harshness and peril of her neighborhood: "I enjoy the sounds of traffic at night, even though it's occasionally interrupted by gunfire" (77).