Book Review | This Is Not a Personal Statement by Tracy Badua

Title: This Is Not a Personal Statement
Author: Tracy Badua
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: January 17th, 2023
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

“As the youngest graduating senior at her hypercompetitive high school, Perla Perez is certain all the late nights, social isolation, and crushing stress will be worth it when she gets into the college of her (and her parents’) dreams: Delmont University.

Then Perla doesn’t get in, and her meticulously planned future shatters. In a panic, she forges her own acceptance letter, and next thing she knows, she’s heading to Delmont for real, acceptance or not. Perla’s plan? Gather on-the-ground intel to beef up her application and reapply spring semester before she’s caught.

But as her guilty conscience grows and campus security looms large, Perla starts to wonder if her plan will really succeed, and if this dream she’s worked for her entire life is something she even wants.” (Goodreads)

This was a unique take on a teenage girl getting ready for college.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Perla Perez. She graduated high school early at the age of sixteen and has never really fit in with her peers. Although, she has spent more time studying, getting good grades, and being pushed by her parents to be her best. All of those things have culminated to make her not take no for an answer and devises a plan to be a student at Delmont while not being one.

I understand why Perla would go the route she did when it came to faking it. The pressure her parents put on her was a lot and they didn’t make it easy for an open dialogue between them. It was either their way or she just wasn’t good enough. It’s sad that this type of pressure happens in our own world. A one track plan shouldn’t be the be all or end all type of deal.

Even though I understood her, I thought that it was also kind of far fetch at the same time. It makes for an interesting plot but it was hard not to question everything that was happening. I wish Perla had been honest with her parents before being caught and even after it all comes out she doesn’t have a huge conversation with her parents, but her dad seemed to care more than her mother.

Perla did learn a lot through her experience and made friends, but also lost some. It all helped her in growing as a person.

Overall, this was a good audiobook. I liked the narration and it was easy to listen to.

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