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vanessaandbooks's review against another edition
0.25
This was the most stereotypical, borderline racist book i have ever read. Also the use of the r-slur???? Wtf
toucanjam's review against another edition
5.0
Omg I’ve been looking for this book forever. I couldn’t remember the title just that the main character’s name was Gabi and that she was going through ALOT of stuff in her life. It was a perfect blend of humor and growing pains that also focused on some really heavy stuff. I remember laughing like crazy in one passage and also being incredulous that I was because as I said, Gabi and her loved ones we’re dealing with a lot of heavy stuff. It kind of reminded me of the absolutely true diary of a part time Indian in the way it infused humor and common coming age tropes along with shedding a light on more some more adverse struggles that a girl like Gabi or a boy like Junior would experience. I think it’s a touch sorely missing from YA. I think I took away from this novel that life is hard but poetry is freeing and friendships and love are worth fighting for.
sarahanne8382's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this one so much! Gabi feels so real as she chronicles her eventful senior year of high school. So many issues are dealt with here - drug abuse, teen moms, rape culture, and homosexuality, to name a few. As a 30-something mom, it was a little uncomfortable to that vividly relive teenage angst, but as a teenager I would have loved to know that I wasn't the lone weirdo with these kinds of concerns. Even though I didn't deal with quite this range of stuff my senior year, Gabi's voice felt so authentic, I really want to dig out my own journals from high school and see if I sounded the same way.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
4.0
Winner of the Morris debut YA novel, this is a terrific novel told through the diary pages of high school senior, Gabi Hernandez. It's a social and emotional roller coaster of a year - is Gabi's resilience and heart enough to get her through? See my full review here.
codenamevixen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
beccawithabook's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alboyer6's review against another edition
5.0
The cover initially put me off but after I read it, I loved it. Beautifully written with wonderful characters. The book makes you laugh and cry sometimes at the same time.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This diary-esque novel follows Gabi during her final year of high school where nothing seems to go right for Gabi or any of her friends. Written with a strong voice with an even stronger protagonist, this book is certain to make a splash with teen readers. Part diary, part poetry, part zine, this mishmash of a novel was absolutely incredible!!
Gabi is so loud and funny and endearing, and her friends are just so incredibly real. This book critiques how Mexican-Americans are viewed in our culture from the stereotypes to the statistics. What does it mean when you're now a statistic but also still an autonomous person? Do your actions define a statistic or does the statistic define you? And what happens when you try to break free from those stereotypes, when the reason for those statistics are more than just foolishness and impulsive decisions? And what happens when you don't have an outlet to discuss all the things that are happening around you?
This book is so poignant, and I'm honestly a little surprised that more people in my circles haven't read it. It seems like it would fit right in with their reading habits (for real, pals who are reading this). It's YA, it about a Mexican-American fat girl, and discusses some of the harsh realities of being a woman in this society.
Gabi is also another one of those books that has a pleasantly realistic ending rather than a hugely uplifting one or a totally depressing one. Honestly, this text taught me a lot about current discussions in communities other than my own (namely Mexican communities) as well as how Mexican-American familial cultures operate. I loved this book, and can't recommend it enough!
Review cross-listed here!
Gabi is so loud and funny and endearing, and her friends are just so incredibly real. This book critiques how Mexican-Americans are viewed in our culture from the stereotypes to the statistics. What does it mean when you're now a statistic but also still an autonomous person? Do your actions define a statistic or does the statistic define you? And what happens when you try to break free from those stereotypes, when the reason for those statistics are more than just foolishness and impulsive decisions? And what happens when you don't have an outlet to discuss all the things that are happening around you?
This book is so poignant, and I'm honestly a little surprised that more people in my circles haven't read it. It seems like it would fit right in with their reading habits (for real, pals who are reading this). It's YA, it about a Mexican-American fat girl, and discusses some of the harsh realities of being a woman in this society.
Gabi is also another one of those books that has a pleasantly realistic ending rather than a hugely uplifting one or a totally depressing one. Honestly, this text taught me a lot about current discussions in communities other than my own (namely Mexican communities) as well as how Mexican-American familial cultures operate. I loved this book, and can't recommend it enough!
Review cross-listed here!
lovely_smiles's review against another edition
5.0
Gabi, the main character reminded me so much of myself. I am a poet as is she. I loved her one over the female body. She was caught in between so many worlds. How to be the right, good girl. I loved this book. It was deeper than just the upper plot layout. She is trying to find herself in a world that tells you what's right, wrong, good, bad, and is just down right confusing and complicated. We are all made up of so many different "pieces". We wouldn't be who we are without the circumstances that life puts us in. We develop by all our interactions and experiences. Great book!
kerlyn's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book gabi reminds me sooo much of myself, I loved the way this book was written, it was really funny and super relatable