Daisy Hernandez's A Cup of Water Under My Bed is praised for its poignant reflections on identity, culture, and sexuality, weaving personal anecdotes with broader social issues. Critics appreciate her lyrical prose and honesty. Some find the narrative structure occasionally disjointed, but overall, the memoir is lauded for its emotional depth and authenticity.

Readers who relish exploring cultural identity, LGBTQ+ narratives, and family dynamics will find much to admire in Daisy Hernandez's A Cup of Water Under My Bed. Fans of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and Fun Home by Alison Bechdel will appreciate Hernandez's poignant, introspective memoir.

A Cup of Water Under My Bed by Daisy Hernández is a memoir detailing her coming-of-age journey as a first-generation American with Colombian and Cuban immigrant parents in New Jersey, exploring themes of race, class, gender, and sexuality from the 1980s to the 1990s. Sensitive topics include instances of child abuse, anti-LGBTQ+ bias and violence, and negative references to Indigenous people.

Contemplative / Emotional / Nostalgic / Bittersweet

- A Cup of Water Under My Bed is Daisy Hernández's memoir, which was recognized as a finalist for the 2015 Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Nonfiction.
- Daisy Hernández previously served as the managing editor of ColorLines, a news magazine focused on race and politics from a multicultural perspective.
- The title A Cup of Water Under My Bed is inspired by an old Latina tradition, reflecting Daisy Hernández's exploration of her Colombian-Cuban heritage.

**Daisy Hernández**  
An insightful writer and cultural critic who explores themes of gender, sexuality, and race, drawing from her experiences growing up as a queer Latina in a Colombian and Cuban family in New Jersey.  

**Hernández's Parents**  
Her Colombian mother and Cuban father who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s to work in textile factories, contributing to the backdrop of her memoir.  

**Hernández's Aunts**  
Three aunts who are part of her upbringing and significantly influence her reflections on family dynamics and cultural identity.  

**Hernández's Sister**  
A sibling with whom Hernández grew up in New Jersey, part of the familial context shaping her experiences and reflections.

Daisy Hernandez

Adult

Autobiography / Memoir

Nonfiction

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