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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Quintero, Isabel. Gabi, a Girl in Pieces. Cinco Puntos Press, 2014.
Gabi is a pale-skinned Mexican-American girl trying to survive normal high school life, where "normal" means that her mom is really strict, her best friend is raped and has the baby anyway, her other best friend comes out as gay and is kicked out of his house, her arch-enemy at school has to get an abortion, and Gabi herself starts dating a great guy. This novel is written as Gabi's journal, complete with poetry she has written, a zine she made, and her commentary on her life and what's going on around her.
It isn't until I started writing this review that I realized this book lacks what most books I love have: a discernible plot. There isn't one in this book, and this is the first time that a book hasn't bothered me by not going anywhere. It's just the story of a year in school, as Gabi deals with all sorts of messy things, since life, sometimes, is just messy. What I love about Gabi is that she is 100% herself, without apology. She describes herself as fat and talks about emotional eating, but isn't obsessed with trying to lose weight. She is excited about prom and what might happen afterward, but buys condoms herself because she doesn't want to rely on her boyfriend to be prepared. She takes her frenemy to get an abortion because it's just the right thing to do. She rages against the unfairness of things around her, but still embraces the good parts of her life. I want all my studensts/patrons to be friends with a Gabi.
If you want a more detailed review, check out this one.
Recommended for: ALL THE PEOPLES. :) Fans of journal novels, fans of multicultural lit, teens, those who work with teens
Red Flags: lots - Language, talk of rape, Gabi goes postal on a jerkwad boy and beats him up, talk about drug use - but all of these things are pretty normal parts of a teen's life
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars
Gabi is a pale-skinned Mexican-American girl trying to survive normal high school life, where "normal" means that her mom is really strict, her best friend is raped and has the baby anyway, her other best friend comes out as gay and is kicked out of his house, her arch-enemy at school has to get an abortion, and Gabi herself starts dating a great guy. This novel is written as Gabi's journal, complete with poetry she has written, a zine she made, and her commentary on her life and what's going on around her.
It isn't until I started writing this review that I realized this book lacks what most books I love have: a discernible plot. There isn't one in this book, and this is the first time that a book hasn't bothered me by not going anywhere. It's just the story of a year in school, as Gabi deals with all sorts of messy things, since life, sometimes, is just messy. What I love about Gabi is that she is 100% herself, without apology. She describes herself as fat and talks about emotional eating, but isn't obsessed with trying to lose weight. She is excited about prom and what might happen afterward, but buys condoms herself because she doesn't want to rely on her boyfriend to be prepared. She takes her frenemy to get an abortion because it's just the right thing to do. She rages against the unfairness of things around her, but still embraces the good parts of her life. I want all my studensts/patrons to be friends with a Gabi.
If you want a more detailed review, check out this one.
Recommended for: ALL THE PEOPLES. :) Fans of journal novels, fans of multicultural lit, teens, those who work with teens
Red Flags: lots - Language, talk of rape, Gabi goes postal on a jerkwad boy and beats him up, talk about drug use - but all of these things are pretty normal parts of a teen's life
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars
"Poetry helps heal wounds. Makes them tangible."
3.5 stars
Gabi, A Girl in Pieces follows Gabi, a high school senior who is...in pieces. Every area of her life seems to be in turmoil. From her overbearing mother to her father who does drugs to her reckless younger brother, Gabi's family life is seemingly a mess. On top of that, she struggles to understand her changing body, romantic relationships, and how to be there for her friends. The only constant in her life is poetry, which she often turns to to understand the world around her.
Gabi was an interesting character to read about. I really loved the poems, letters, and zine in this story and thought it was a nice touch; however, I thought the plot was doing too much at once. It was difficult to care about all of her different problems as it seemed like they were just being thrown in my face. Overall though, it was a fun, quick read!
3.5 stars
Gabi, A Girl in Pieces follows Gabi, a high school senior who is...in pieces. Every area of her life seems to be in turmoil. From her overbearing mother to her father who does drugs to her reckless younger brother, Gabi's family life is seemingly a mess. On top of that, she struggles to understand her changing body, romantic relationships, and how to be there for her friends. The only constant in her life is poetry, which she often turns to to understand the world around her.
Gabi was an interesting character to read about. I really loved the poems, letters, and zine in this story and thought it was a nice touch; however, I thought the plot was doing too much at once. It was difficult to care about all of her different problems as it seemed like they were just being thrown in my face. Overall though, it was a fun, quick read!
The voice felt a little too immature for someone who is 17. It was too distracting for me.
The narrator of this book is completely relatable, hilariously funny, and poignantly reflective as she navigates the world of being a high school senior. Though I'm not a Latina, I found Gabi's reflections on her culture and the expectations that go with that culture enlightening, and frankly, universal.
This is funny and personable. Just wish I knew a little bit of spanish while reading it.
All the stars!!!! LIKE ALL OF THEM! This was such an amazing book, and found so much of it to be relatable! Like a lot of it! I loved Gabi's sassiness, and her friends. I loved the poetry that was written, and all the problems she struggles with, from minor to major issues. And I just loved it so much! I was nice to read about a plus sized Latin-American female, who felt real! And not just projected as what this type of person should feel like.
I love how real Gabi feels. And the way this book portrays friendships.
While I enjoyed the important topics being discussed, I felt as if not all of them found a true arc by the end of the novel. The diary format of the novel led to some choppy plot lines and provided only retellings of the character’s experiences. The representation of a latinx plus-size woman is extremely important and overall well done. However, a lot of the Spanish became translated for the reader through repetition. I would’ve enjoyed to simply read the Spanish on its own. As a larger woman myself, some of Gabi’s internal monologues have been in my head before. I found some of her conversations shameful though as she only finds confidence when she starts to lose weight. This landed in a sore spot for me. Overall, I appreciate the attempt to scratch at the topics included. I wish to see more development in the future.
The poetry aspect was fantastic as well.
The poetry aspect was fantastic as well.
This is one of my new favorite books. Gabi is a delightful narrator full of humor, beauty and truth. She captures high school and family in a very real and wonderful way.
Really, really enjoyed this.
Journal form. Discussions about body image, consent, the pressures of being a “good girl”, family struggles, teen pregnancies, coming out, falling in love, Mexican culture... honestly, it covers a lot in the senior year of Gabi’s high school career but it’s full of personality and raw honesty and her new love of poetry.
Journal form. Discussions about body image, consent, the pressures of being a “good girl”, family struggles, teen pregnancies, coming out, falling in love, Mexican culture... honestly, it covers a lot in the senior year of Gabi’s high school career but it’s full of personality and raw honesty and her new love of poetry.