Gabi, a Girl in Pieces - Softcover

Isabel Quintero is an award-winning writer from the Inland Empire of Southern California. She is also the daughter of Mexican immigrants. In addition to Gabi, A Girl in Pieces, she has also written a chapter book series for young readers, Ugly Cat and Pablo (Scholastic, Inc.), a non-fiction YA graphic biography, Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide (Getty Publications, 2018), which received the Boston Globe Horn Book Award, and most recently, a picture book, My Papi Has a Motorcycle (Kokila, 2019). Isabel also writes poetry and essays. Her work can be found in The Normal School, Huizache, The Acentos Review, As/Us Journal, The James Franco Review, and other publications.

Winner of the 2015 Morris Award for Debut YA Fiction

"Meet Quintero’s 'fat girl' Gabi, eating and starving and fighting and writing her way through the crushing pressures of high school boy desire, religious approval and Mexican cultural taboos. I cannot think of any book today for young adults as voracious, bold, truthful and timely." Juan Felipe Herrera, U.S. Poet Laureate

"One of the year's finest young adult novels." Largehearted Boy

"Believing she's not Mexican enough for her family and not white enough for Berkeley, Gabi still meets every challenge head-on with vulgar humor and raw honesty A refreshing take on slut- and fat-shaming, Quintero's work ranks with Meg Medina's Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass and Junot Diaz's Drown as a coming-of-age novel with Latino protagonists." School Library Journal, starred review

"Readers won't soon forget Gabi, a young woman coming into her own in the face of intense pressure from her family, culture and society to fit someone else's idea of what it means to be a 'good' girl. A fresh, authentic and honest exploration of contemporary Latina identity." Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Quintero’s first novel quickly establishes a strong voice and Mexican-American cultural perspective through the journal of intelligent, self-deprecating, and funny Gabi." Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Reading Quintero’s debut is like attending a large family fiesta: it’s overpopulated with people, noise, and emotion, but the overall effect is joyous." Booklist, starred review

"Told through Gabi’s diary, the book is tragic, hilarious, and always whip-smart. It’s also, I’m sure, one of the most diverse and all-encompassing YA novels out there." John Hansen, The Guardian

"While reflecting the specific experiences of one overweight, Mexican-American teenager, Quintero’s debut novel addresses a number of universal themes, from family relationships to sexual exploration. Gabi’s voice, as expressed in her diary through poetry, prose, lists, and overheard conversations, is funny, smart, full of wonder, and brutally honest." VOYA Magazine, starred review

"Gabi's voice is a completely bicultural and bilingual voice, so throughout the novel, you will have Spanish and English the way it's really spoken in our families it's this crazy sort of Spanglish mix. And she's bold. She will say the quote-unquote unthinkable things about her body, about sexuality, about the crazy, dual sets of rules for Latino boys and girls.” Meg Medina, author of Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, for NPR

"Quintero’s novel shows that some of the most interesting, innovative, and honest titles come from the small press world. Award committees take note this is an amazing novel from a bright new star." Lyn Miller-Lachmann, The Pirate Tree

"The author creates a strong sense of character and realistically portrays Gabi’s challenging settings. The way [Isabel] Quintero portrays the heroine’s moment-to-moment moods feels completely authentic." Susie Wild, The Harold Sun

"California high school senior Gabriella (Gabi Hernanadez) is caught between not being Mexican enough and gravitating toward the things white girls do at least according to her mother. To make sense of her world, she keeps a journal about her own struggles with self-esteem and related weight issues, also writing about her best friend Cindy’s pregnancy and her other best friend Sebastian’s coming out to his family." Karen Hildebrand, Literacy Daily

Wish this book had been around during my angst youth, but at least you can pick it up now and revel in the author’s grace and humor in dealing with very heavy subject matter. Isabel Quintero reminds us of the transformative power of journal writing, as well.” Stacey Lewis, City Lights Publishers

"Isabel Quintero’s young adult novel 'Gabi: A Girl in Pieces' centers around a young, light-skinned Mexican-American girl. Like Gabi, I feel I need to prove my identity all the time." Melissa Lozada-Oliva, The Guardian

Awards
2015 Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens
2015 Tomás Rivera Book Award, Works for Older Children
2015 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults
2015 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Top 10 Selection
Amelia Bloomer List, part of the American Library Association, Social Responsibilities Round Table’s Feminist Task Force
Booklist Best Books of 2014
School Library Journal Best Books of 2014