Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. TX: Cinco Puntos
Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero is a young adult novel about Gabriela (Gabi) Hernandez, a Mexican-American teen, and her senior year of high school. Gabi tells her story by writing in her diary, writing letters, and writing poetry. A recurring topic in her diary is her love for food. Gabi struggles with body image which is made worse by her mother's reminders that she is "gordita". She also struggles with her feelings about her meth-addicted father who disappears for weeks at a time while he is high. Through her diary, we learn that Gabi's friends are also dealing with their own tough issues. Her friend Sebastian comes out as gay to his parents and is kicked out of his home and her friend Cindy ends up pregnant. Gabi deals with personal heartache with her dating life and terrible loss when her father dies from an overdose. Through it all, Gabi is able to push through and ends up with a wonderful boyfriend, and is accepted to the college of her dreams. In the end, while Gabi is sitting at graduation dinner with her friends and her family, she realizes that everything is going to be alright.
Isabel Quintero's novel takes readers through a journey of body image, addiction, death, sexuality, religion, and teen pregnancy. The writing style brings each character and their struggles to life. You lose yourself in the story and it begins to feel like you are actually reading a teenage girls' diary. Gabi challenges expectations, thinks for herself, and isn't afraid of putting herself out there and/or making mistakes. This book about an ordinary year in an ordinary girl's life is a must-read!
Comments
Post a Comment