Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. Texas: Cinco Puntos.
Gabi is a Mexican-American high school senior in California faced with teenager struggles, including a friend who is gay and one who is pregnant. Her mother is constantly pressuring her to not eat so much and to be careful around boys, because all they want is sex. Her father had died from a drug overdose and her aunt thought she had witch powers. The only way she knew how to deal with all the negativity was by binge eating. She even had secret hiding places for her favorite foods. Although she thought she would never have a boyfriend because she was too fat, Martin loved her for who she was. Gabi used her sense of humor and a daily journal to overcome some of the obstacles. She was unable to go to graduation because she defended one of her friends and exposed the boy who raped and impregnated her friend. Gabi was very disappointed that she did not get to walk across the stage, but she accepted that there are consequences for your actions. One of her last decisions is about college. She wants to leave and her mom wants her to stay. In the end she realizes that everything is going to be alright.
Gabi is a perfect example for teenagers today in that you should be true to yourself. Do not let others judge you or tell you who to be. She is challenging and not afraid to take risks for what's right. Written as a series of diary entries, this story feels more like an autobiography than a work of fiction. The characters and plot are so easy to relate to that you feel as if they are real.
Learn more about Isabel Quintero.
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