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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
This isn’t one I’ll finish, but it has an interesting concept. It’s about transition, grown-up decisions when you’re still young and life-altering occurrences. Another big theme seems to be the old ways vs. modern society. I wish I had more time to read it!
Leave it to a young adult novel to remind me why I love reading poetry. The poetry is such an integral part of the book and so imporant to Gabi. Gabi is a poet herself, but her English teacher introduces her to some wonderful poetry. I really need to go back and look up all the poems mentioned in the book. Some of them I already knew, but many were new to me.
This is a wonderful, heart-breaking novel. Not only did it remind me about poetry, but Quintero's writing showed me once again that good writing transcends any fences we try to put around it. This is supposed to be a story for high school students. However, Gabi's life is real and should be encountered by more than just teenagers. Thank goodness, I will never live in Gabi's world (I wouldn't survive), but I should know about such places, such lives.
As we continue to deal with racism and all our cultural problems as a nation, I want people to read more books outside their own experience. I can't ever know what it is like to be a high school student who immigrated to this country, whose dad abuses drugs, whose brother is arrested or any of the other things that happens in Gabi's life. However, Quintero writes so vividly that I can try to walk in Gabi's shoes. Books are not the only answer, but they give us a place to start.
If you want to know what some high school students are experiencing, what some people have to deal with everyday, try this novel. I won't say every Mexican-American high school student is living Gabi's life, but I am betting this book is not fantasy.
This is a wonderful, heart-breaking novel. Not only did it remind me about poetry, but Quintero's writing showed me once again that good writing transcends any fences we try to put around it. This is supposed to be a story for high school students. However, Gabi's life is real and should be encountered by more than just teenagers. Thank goodness, I will never live in Gabi's world (I wouldn't survive), but I should know about such places, such lives.
As we continue to deal with racism and all our cultural problems as a nation, I want people to read more books outside their own experience. I can't ever know what it is like to be a high school student who immigrated to this country, whose dad abuses drugs, whose brother is arrested or any of the other things that happens in Gabi's life. However, Quintero writes so vividly that I can try to walk in Gabi's shoes. Books are not the only answer, but they give us a place to start.
If you want to know what some high school students are experiencing, what some people have to deal with everyday, try this novel. I won't say every Mexican-American high school student is living Gabi's life, but I am betting this book is not fantasy.
I really liked this book and I know I would have loved it when I was in the high school. It's a very real and compelling novel that digs into issues that teens are facing. While I didn't connect with it as much as I would when I was a teenager, I'm glad I read it and will be able to suggest it to my patrons, putting it in the hands of kids who will deeply connect.
Gabi is such a good book and such a well developed character. I love YA, but often find that authors basically put adults in high school and call in YA, which isn't realistic at all. Gabi goes through a million emotions a minute and finds herself searching for answers to some really difficult questions. This book is so important for teenagers, because it addresses a plethora of real things that they are experiencing without sugar coating.
My one frustration with the book was that it seemed borderline like The Secret Life of the American Teenager with all its sex related twists and turns. I felt like it was overreaching at times to have so many things happen to or around one character.
My one frustration with the book was that it seemed borderline like The Secret Life of the American Teenager with all its sex related twists and turns. I felt like it was overreaching at times to have so many things happen to or around one character.
I really liked this! I wouldn't have picked it up I don't think if we weren't reading it for book club at school, but I'm glad I did. Full review to come!
I loved it, I loved it, I loved it.
Sometimes when reading a diary format story, you don't actually feel like you're reading a diary, but this nailed that mix of high and low - a deep, profound exchange alongside a totally inane proclamation. Quintero's writing is spot-on, but Gabi's voice is the show stealer and I could follow her life for a hundred more pages. My heart rose and fell with her's. I remember falling in love with poetry at the same time in my life for the same reasons. I loved watching her develop her view of what it means to be a woman and to challenge the perceptions of other women in her life. Highly, highly recommend.
Sometimes when reading a diary format story, you don't actually feel like you're reading a diary, but this nailed that mix of high and low - a deep, profound exchange alongside a totally inane proclamation. Quintero's writing is spot-on, but Gabi's voice is the show stealer and I could follow her life for a hundred more pages. My heart rose and fell with her's. I remember falling in love with poetry at the same time in my life for the same reasons. I loved watching her develop her view of what it means to be a woman and to challenge the perceptions of other women in her life. Highly, highly recommend.
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Heart warming story about a mexican american girl finding herself in a confusing world
This book was so fun! Gabi is a bright and spunky girl struggling to define herself in a world that defines her as a Chicana, a daughter of a drug addict, and as an irresponsible teenager. The plot was fairly predictable, but satisfying, and I would highly recommend this book to any teenager, or anyone who works with teenagers.
Loved the voice in this. And that Quintero let her be chubby and have boyfriends. I found her funny and liked her journey. On the negative, found gay friend a little cookie cutter and I didn't think she really went deep enough with the addict father - such an interesting issue that I haven't seen a lot of books about - lost opportunity there. My favorite thing is voice, though, and it was great here.