LSSL 5385: Book 9

October 21, 2019

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces

By Isabel Quintero

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A Girl in Pieces. TX: Cinco Puntos Press.

Gabi Hernandez is a senior who lives with her mother, her brother Beto, and her drug addict father is in and out of the picture. Gabi loves her friends Cindy and Sebastian, food, and is really looking forward to her poetry class. She loves food but isn’t always confident in her body type because her mother often makes comments about her weight, as well as Georgiana “la payasa” a girl from school. Gabi spends almost of all her free time with her friends. Sebastian is gay, and is kicked out of his house when he comes out to his family. Cindy get pregnant by German after a night of partying during the summer, and later admits to her friends that she was raped. Gabi’s mother surprises her and is okay with Sebastian staying at their house here and there. Her mother doesn’t approve of her friendship with Cindy anymore though, and doesn’t want Gabi to turn into a “bad girl.” Gabi remains steadfast in her loyalty to her friends.

Gabi isn’t experienced as her friends, and has never had a first kiss or boyfriend. She is very self-conscious and doesn’t think anyone would want a fat girl. She finally gets a boyfriend, Eric, but continues to have crushes on other guys. One day at the mall with her brother, she sees her boyfriend kissing another girl. She breaks up with him, and her brother sticks up for her by vandalizing Eric’s car. Gabi really enjoys her poetry class, and stars working with Martin on her poems. They began to fall for another, he gives her a very thoughtful Christmas gift, and they start dating. Martin is a kind and respectful boyfriend, and they share a love of poetry.

One day Gabi discovers her father slumped in the corner of their garage. Her father dies, and her mother is left pregnant with their third child. Gabi doesn’t know what it’s in store for her future, but knows she wants to move away to college. Her dream is to attend Berkeley College. After her father’s death, Beto comes up drunk, gets into with their mother, and their mother goes into premature labor. Their aunt moves in to help with the baby. While working on an English project, Ian makes an unwanted move on Gabi, and then proceeds to spread lies about it to Martin. Martin and Gabi get into an argument about it, but eventually resolve the issue and still plan on going to prom together. Her mother offers to go prom dress shopping with her, and for once she doesn’t criticize Gabi’s weight. Gabi has a great time at prom with her friends and Martin, and at the end of the night she and Martin end up having sex for the first time. Gabi gets home, is grounded, but her mother doesn’t find out what happened.

During school one day Gabi passes German in the hallway walking with a younger girl and is furious he’s walking around like nothing happened. She is enraged at what he did to Cindy and can’t fathom him raping someone else. She verbally confronts him which leads to a physical altercation. Gabi is suspended for a week, and is scared that she won’t be allowed to attend Berkeley. Eventually a witness comes forward, German drops the charges, and the school decides not to put anything on her permanent record. She still won’t be able to walk the stage at graduation. Gabi attends senior ditch day with her friends at the beach, and feels confident enough to wear a bikini. She is sad that she can’t walk at graduation, but is ultimately grateful she will be able to attend Berkeley in the fall with Martin. Her family and friends gather at Pepe’s House of Wings, celebrate the joyous occasion and the journey they are about to embark on!

Quintero’s novel is beautifully written in diary form, and touches on many insecurities that girls face. Gabi learns to love herself for who she is, and not to pay attention to the criticism of others. The novel also mentions the different stereotypes for boys and girls, and how the topic of sex is broached by parents. Girls are taught early on to keep their legs closed, and when boys leave their house they’re reminded to bring a condom. Throughout the book Spanish phrases are used, and sometimes it was hard for me to put together what they were saying. At times they were explained or able to be determined by context, but a cliff note would have been helpful in gaining a better understanding. Gabi puts her pieces together and uses her voice through poetry to teach about family, loyalty, friendship, and perseverance.

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