Gabi: A Girl In Pieces-Book Review

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. TX: Cinco Puntos

Gabi Hernandez is Mexican-American senior in high school.  Written from Gabi’s point of view through her intimate journal entries documenting her senior year, Gabi gives readers an honest, authentic, and even hilarious perspective into her life.  Gabi struggles with what is expected of her from her family as a Mexican young lady, and what she aspires to be.  What really defines a “good” Mexican girl?  Her journal takes us on a journey of the light hearted and fun side of Gabi, and through issues she faces all in one school year.  Gabi struggles with body image and handles stress about family, school, and friends with binge eating and hiding snacks in her room.  Her father is addicted to drugs and comes and goes as he pleases, leaving Gabi, her younger brother, and her mother to worry about him and his well-being.  Gabi’s mother discovers she is pregnant and only months later Gabi discovers her father’s dead body in their garage after an overdose.  Meanwhile, Gabi journals about boy crushes, dating, and about her two best friends, Cindy and Sebastian, who are dealing with problems of their own.  Cindy is a victim to teen pregnancy and later reveals it was due to date rape, and Sebastian has decided to come out with his sexual preference and is rejected by his family.  Gabi finds her first love, and readers find themselves cheering her on and being drawn to her confidence, growth, and her sense of humor.  What saves Gabi from everything going on is her poetry class.  Gabi discovers a healthy way to express her love, her hurt from her father, and how she see’s others and herself. 

I personally could not put this book down.  Gabi’s journaling format made the text feel real and intimate.  I found myself wanting to know what will happen the next day for Gabi.  Because this book hits so many issues young adults are faced with today; sexual preference, falling in love, death, teen pregnancy, date rape, body image, drug addiction, family pressure/expectations, and even abortion, this text is able to reach many who need to see themselves in a book.  Quintero develops an intriguing protagonist through the simplicity of Gabi being just Gabi.  Watching her confidence grow in who she is the real victory for this character. 

Isabel Quintero is a talented author.  Follow this link  https://laisabelquintero.com/publications/ to access more publications written by Quintero including children’s books and poetry.  Discover awards and honors she has been given as well.