Books Like The Liars of Mariposa Island
Families who loved The Liars of Mariposa Island by Jennifer Mathieu often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved The Liars of Mariposa Island by Jennifer Mathieu often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is beginning to recognize the complexities of their upbringing or feeling the weight of a 'difficult' parent. It is a powerful resource for older teens who are navigating the transition to adulthood while carrying the emotional burden of family secrets and intergenerational trauma. Set in the 1980s on a small Texas island, the story follows siblings Elena and Joaquin as they navigate life with their controlling, alcoholic mother, whose own past as a refugee from the Cuban Revolution has left her deeply scarred. Parents might choose this book to help a teenager process feelings of guilt, the desire for independence, and the realization that their parents are flawed, three-dimensional humans. It is appropriate for mature high schoolers due to its heavy themes of substance abuse and emotional manipulation, providing a safe space to discuss the limits of family loyalty.
