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allison_rachell's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
angelalxx's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
amieinstereo's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
rrowanreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
4.0
julie_reads15's review
5.0
'Gabi, A Girl in Pieces' by Isabel Quintero is a coming of age novel about Gabi, a Mexican teenage girl who is navigating her senior year of high school.
Gabi needs to focus on doing well in school so she can get into the college of her dreams. The added drama in her life proves to make this a challenge. Gabi is boy crazy and is constantly chasing boys.
She also has to be there for her best friends who have problems of their own. Cindy is pregnant and Sebastian has just come out as gay to his parents.
Her home life is filled with drama too. Her father is a meth addict and is rarely home. She is constantly chastised by her mother for not being the perfect Mexican girl.
With all of the drama in her life, Gabi finds an escape in poetry and food.
The book is set out in Gabi's diary entries with snippets of her poetry and a zine.
There was a lot of drama in this book, but Gabi's humour balanced it out perfectly.
I loved Gabi. She wasn't ashamed of her weight or eating. She always tried to do what she thought was right and was always there for her friends. She accepted her mistakes and learned from them.
I liked the diary format because it personalised the story and it flowed quickly. Gabi's poetry was raw and pure, and added the extra personal touch to the novel. Her zine was an honest and interesting inclusion.
Gabi went on a journey of self-empowerment and matured into a strong and beautiful woman. Her voice and diversity made it a fresh read.
Gabi needs to focus on doing well in school so she can get into the college of her dreams. The added drama in her life proves to make this a challenge. Gabi is boy crazy and is constantly chasing boys.
She also has to be there for her best friends who have problems of their own. Cindy is pregnant and Sebastian has just come out as gay to his parents.
Her home life is filled with drama too. Her father is a meth addict and is rarely home. She is constantly chastised by her mother for not being the perfect Mexican girl.
With all of the drama in her life, Gabi finds an escape in poetry and food.
The book is set out in Gabi's diary entries with snippets of her poetry and a zine.
There was a lot of drama in this book, but Gabi's humour balanced it out perfectly.
I loved Gabi. She wasn't ashamed of her weight or eating. She always tried to do what she thought was right and was always there for her friends. She accepted her mistakes and learned from them.
I liked the diary format because it personalised the story and it flowed quickly. Gabi's poetry was raw and pure, and added the extra personal touch to the novel. Her zine was an honest and interesting inclusion.
Gabi went on a journey of self-empowerment and matured into a strong and beautiful woman. Her voice and diversity made it a fresh read.
maryehavens's review
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book had everything Teen; all the tragedy that could happen to a kid plus prom and graduation. I loved Kyla Garcia's narration. She really captured all the aspects of Gabi.
I know that this book is on challenged/banned lists and I can see why but to think that teens are not going through some or all of these issues is very naïve. My son started High School freshman orientation finding out that 2 of his 8th grade classmates were going to be parents. Literally: 3 months prior they had just finished 8th grade. They were 14!! And now, I asked about them 8 months later and he has no idea where they are.
My heart broke for Cyndi...that was so tragic. But Gabi's dad was too. Really, Tia Bertha had the best arc!
I also liked the way Quintero highlighted poetry in the book. Sometimes that's not done very well but it was in this book. Made me want to read all the poems she alluded to.
I know that this book is on challenged/banned lists and I can see why but to think that teens are not going through some or all of these issues is very naïve. My son started High School freshman orientation finding out that 2 of his 8th grade classmates were going to be parents. Literally: 3 months prior they had just finished 8th grade. They were 14!! And now, I asked about them 8 months later and he has no idea where they are.
My heart broke for Cyndi...that was so tragic. But Gabi's dad was too. Really, Tia Bertha had the best arc!
I also liked the way Quintero highlighted poetry in the book. Sometimes that's not done very well but it was in this book. Made me want to read all the poems she alluded to.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion, Rape, Death of parent, and Drug use
mollywetta's review
4.0
I highly recommend this on audio. Great narration. It feels like you're just hanging out with Gabi.
vanessaandbooks's review
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
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.