Gabby: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

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

Gabi Hernandez is in her senior year of high school and she has so many things that can go wrong: one of her best friends is pregnant, the other has just come-out to her and his parents kicked him out of their house, her father is a drug addict, her overbearing religious aunt has now moved in with her family to help out, and her mom is constantly reminding her that she needs to lose weight if she ever wants to find a husband. In the midst of all this she still needs to pass all her classes if she plans on being accepted by her number one college prospect-Berkley. Gabi finds that when life hands you lemons you should write poetry, and in her case, fall into like and love with a few guys in the process. Through writing, Gabi finds her niche in a poetry club that inevitably gives her the strength to overcome the death of her father, finding out her friend was raped, and release all the pain that has been stored throughout the last school year. After all the this she finds that being herself, gordita, educated, and not afraid to speak her mind, is the best kind of thing. 

Because some of the topics discussed such as sex, teen pregnancy, drugs, and rape, this book would be better suited for students in high school. Gabi and her many different plights will make her relatable with many young readers in their search for a place in this world, and introducing students to a character like her would be great to discuss independence, individuality, culture vs. society, and coming of age topics. 

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars!