Atlas Obscura Presents Sound Influence: Los Rivera Destino and Jaquira Díaz

In *Ordinary Girls*, Jaquira Díaz recounts her childhood and adolescence in housing projects in Puerto Rico and Miami Beach. The memoir delves into her experiences with a family torn apart by schizophrenia, addiction, and mental illness, as well as her own struggles with depression, sexual assault, and finding support for her burgeoning sexual identity. Despite the harrowing details, Díaz's story is one of resilience, hope, and the power of friendships. The book also explores broader themes such as Puerto Rico's history of colonialism, racism, and the complexities of girlhood for brown and black girls. Díaz's writing is praised for its lyricism, honesty, and the vivid portrayal of her life and the lives of those around her.