Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi, a girl in pieces.
El Paso, Tejas: Cinco Puntos Press.
Gabi, a senior, is trying to navigate her last high school year, while tackling various hurdles thrown her way. At the beginning, she not only learns that her best friend, Sebastian is gay, but her other best friend, Cindy, is pregnant. Gabi attempts to cope with these revelations and is a supportive friend. Not only does Gabi have to worry about her friend’s adversities, but her home life is in pieces as well. Her dad’s a meth addict, her brother was arrested for graffiti, and her mom becomes pregnant. Gabi stands by her friends even when bullies try to tear them down, all while attempting to get into her dream college, Berkeley. Gabi recognizes she loves her family even through the hardships. As her senior year closes, Gabi has learned that no matter the circumstances, the love of close friends and family is all she needs to succeed in life. Gabi chronicles her thoughts in a diary style format. Since Gabi is part Hispanic, she writes in Spanish at times in her diary. Ms. Abernard, her teacher, and Rosemary, her neighbor, are symbolic figures throughout the book. They are motherly figures and Gabi trusts them because they give motherly advice to her since her mother isn’t emotionally supportive. The author incorporates, in a light hearted but authentic way, tribulations and contemporary issues many high school students understand and can relate to in some fashion such as high school pregnancy, body image, addiction, sexual orientation, contested parental relationships, death, and simply trying to fit in. I would recommend This Side of Home, by Renée Watson as a follow-up story that is similar to this book.
Gabi, a senior, is trying to navigate her last high school year, while tackling various hurdles thrown her way. At the beginning, she not only learns that her best friend, Sebastian is gay, but her other best friend, Cindy, is pregnant. Gabi attempts to cope with these revelations and is a supportive friend. Not only does Gabi have to worry about her friend’s adversities, but her home life is in pieces as well. Her dad’s a meth addict, her brother was arrested for graffiti, and her mom becomes pregnant. Gabi stands by her friends even when bullies try to tear them down, all while attempting to get into her dream college, Berkeley. Gabi recognizes she loves her family even through the hardships. As her senior year closes, Gabi has learned that no matter the circumstances, the love of close friends and family is all she needs to succeed in life. Gabi chronicles her thoughts in a diary style format. Since Gabi is part Hispanic, she writes in Spanish at times in her diary. Ms. Abernard, her teacher, and Rosemary, her neighbor, are symbolic figures throughout the book. They are motherly figures and Gabi trusts them because they give motherly advice to her since her mother isn’t emotionally supportive. The author incorporates, in a light hearted but authentic way, tribulations and contemporary issues many high school students understand and can relate to in some fashion such as high school pregnancy, body image, addiction, sexual orientation, contested parental relationships, death, and simply trying to fit in. I would recommend This Side of Home, by Renée Watson as a follow-up story that is similar to this book.
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