Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Summary:

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces is the coming of age story of Gabi Hernandez; who lives with her mother and brother Beto.  The story is told through Gabi’s journal entries during her senior year in high school Her father is one that comes and goes as he his dealing with his own personal problems and drug addiction.  Gabi is lucky to have two best friends that are always there for each other no matter what the problem or situation.  Even though she has a tight knit group of friends; Gabi has an anxiety problem that she copes with by binge eating. Gabi realizes that this is a problem; but unfortunately goes back to the same habit when there is a new stress in her life.

Commentary on Strengths:

Gabi A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero is a Young Adult novel.  The book is a realistic contemporary fiction novel that deals with the coming of age of young Mexican American teenager.  Quintero Is able  to draw you into the story and live your life vicariously through Gabi’s bittersweet life that is full of challenges and victories.  The reader can live her life and witness the pains of being a typical high school senior girl.  The book was awarded the 2015 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Winner; as well as, a  2015 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Finalist  

Readers also enjoyed How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon; The Carnival at Brey by Jessie Ann Fieley; Girls Like Us by Gail Giles;  Hold Tight, Don't Let Go by Laura Rose Wagner; and X by Ilyasah Shabazz

An additional book written by the author is  Ugly Cat and Pablo. 

Teachers can find ideas to incorporate this book in their lesson plans at https://teachinglatinamericathroughliterature.wordpress.com/september-2015-gabi-a-girl-in-pieces/

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi, a girl in pieces. El Paso, Tejas: Cinco Puntos Press.

Book Trailer: