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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
As a hispanic girl named Gabriella, I don't think I've ever read any book with a main character that is hispanic or named Gabriella. (High School Musical DOES NOT count). I wish I had read this book in middle school, because it touches on SO MANY important themes (family issues, friend issues, body issues, teen pregnancy, abuse, etc). Gabi's coming-of-age story is special and full of ups and downs, something I'm sure plenty of pre-teens and teens could relate to. Such a nice reflection of a girl learning and becoming better in so many difficult situations.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
I would have loved to give this book a nice five star review because when it came into my hands I was very excited for it. Picked it right off the library shelf without prior knowledge of what was going to happen and basically read the first page and was hooked.
To put it plainly, this book is very deep. I think it covers every topic in the universe so when you think things have reached the height of drama you’re deflated and then revamped back into it. I’m not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. Usually books tend to follow this predictable ebb and flow that’s mainly manageable. This felt like it was going on and on.
To make it a bit difficult for me as admirable as it was, there was a lot of Spanish embedded into it. I like that it was so seamlessly put into the book but reading peacefully without the need of a translator nearby was difficult for me. I’m writing this not because I’m irritated but just to alert people of what to be prepared for especially if they’ve never learned Spanish.
As a character Gabi is quite interesting. She reminded me of a Latina version of the main character from ‘Angus, Thongs and Full- Frontal Snogging’. I’m not sure if it’s the format that threw me there or if it’s the candid way they both express themselves. They kind of throw truth into your face and force you to open your eyes, which is awesome.
So basically, I’m on the fence of whether I was satisfied or not. On one hand it was a good, engaging read that was actually a good story but on the other, it was so involved I wanted to finish it a lot more than I thought. In addition to that, all the language discrepancies added to my frustration. So it was more like a 3.5 from me.
To put it plainly, this book is very deep. I think it covers every topic in the universe so when you think things have reached the height of drama you’re deflated and then revamped back into it. I’m not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. Usually books tend to follow this predictable ebb and flow that’s mainly manageable. This felt like it was going on and on.
To make it a bit difficult for me as admirable as it was, there was a lot of Spanish embedded into it. I like that it was so seamlessly put into the book but reading peacefully without the need of a translator nearby was difficult for me. I’m writing this not because I’m irritated but just to alert people of what to be prepared for especially if they’ve never learned Spanish.
As a character Gabi is quite interesting. She reminded me of a Latina version of the main character from ‘Angus, Thongs and Full- Frontal Snogging’. I’m not sure if it’s the format that threw me there or if it’s the candid way they both express themselves. They kind of throw truth into your face and force you to open your eyes, which is awesome.
So basically, I’m on the fence of whether I was satisfied or not. On one hand it was a good, engaging read that was actually a good story but on the other, it was so involved I wanted to finish it a lot more than I thought. In addition to that, all the language discrepancies added to my frustration. So it was more like a 3.5 from me.
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read for MLIS elective
I really liked the epistolary/diary style format! Gabi was such a honest and wonderfully flawed character.
I really liked the epistolary/diary style format! Gabi was such a honest and wonderfully flawed character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Homophobia, Religious bigotry
Minor: Ableism, Infidelity, Rape
This book is both a great mirror and window into the life of a modern teen. Gabi has so many qualities and experiences that teens of any gender, ethnicity, and sexuality can relate to or learn from.
I loved the poetry aspect of this one, and it was really relatable.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"For some reason, Bad Gabi has a lot more to say than Good Gabi. And she is usually a lot louder and a lot more convincing."
Esta historia me dio curiosidad desde el principio, un libro con tu nombre en plena portada siempre te picará la atención.
Normalmente no tengo problema con formatos diferentes dentro de los libros, mucho menos con los diarios, solo que en este caso sentí que me dejaba a un lado una construcción completa de los personajes, algunos se sentían bastante planos, como el caso de Eric.
La protagonista fue una voz bastante característica y fácil de llevar aunque a veces no la entendiera, en casos no lograba comprender del todo sus acciones que, algunas, no iban a la par con lo que me decía. Al igual que uno que otro hecho que me parecían un tanto... ficticios.
Spoiler
No quiero caer en estereotipos pero se me hace complicado creer en el salto de "me considero una gordita con ciertos problemas de autoestima a beso a chicos en el camino y me caen tres muchachos super guapos de la nada". Esas cosas no pasan.Entiendo lo que buscaba la autora, incrementar el poder de la mujer, tachar los estereotipos, darle voz a esos temas delicados y conflictivos, además de agregar algo con lo que no recuerdo haber tenido la oportunidad de leer desde ese punto de vista y fue la historia de su tía, quien era profundamente católica y mangoneaba a todos por los pecados que cometían y que los enviarían al infierno, en esas partes era sencillo identificarse, todos tenemos un familiar así. Y para ser franca, en un punto todos los padres del libro se me hicieron increíblemente molestos.
Por momentos era como si mezclara todos los conflictos juveniles unos detrás de otros, embarazos no planificados, homosexualidad, sexo, violación, embarazos imprevistos, padres drogadictos, lo cual no estaba mal, solo que una parte de mi cabeza gritaba "Ya has leído todo esto".
Una de las cosas que debo colocar a su favor fue su cariño por la poesía, por presentarme a los Haikus, por destacar relaciones reales entre los compañeros. Creo que lo hubiera apreciado mucho más si lo hubiera leído hace cuatro, tres años, con la adolescencia a flor de piel.
PD: Una parte de mi quería colocarle como 2.5 estrellas pero... no podemos hacernos esas cosas entre Gabis.
I loved that this book became more feminist as it progressed, and of course I'm always delighted to see protagonists of color, gay characters, anyone who's traditionally underrepresented. But the book itself was very surface level, raising issues but never really exploring them. Although, I'm not a big fan of diary novels, so that minimized my interest as well.
emotional
funny
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:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Suicide, Pregnancy