Welcome to Litsy!

#2022Book69
Based on the cover, I didn‘t realize this story was going to be completely based in reality. That‘s not a complaint, just a comment on my own “judging a book by its cover.” Instead, this book tells the story of a young girl learning to find acceptance amongst her family, friends, and crushes. I really liked the overall story, but it felt like there was more slut-shaming and fat-shaming than necessary.

This book might put some adult readers off because of some of the colorful language. But it‘s a great coming of age story told in the form of a diary written by Gabi, a Mexican-American “big girl,” through her senior year of high school as she & her friends tackle big topics such as religious beliefs, sex, sexuality, rape, addiction, college applications and more. I‘m rooting for Gabi and all her friends as they go off to college!
#YApril book 4

This book deals with a lot of heavy issues, including teen pregnancy, addiction, body image, rape, homophobia, and racial identity but the tone never feels dark or depressing because of Gabi‘s spirited and authentic internal monologue. I think the diary format was a good choice, and I loved Gabi‘s outlet through poetry and her zine.

Yes, the cover of Gabi is ugly, but don‘t let that keep you from reading it. It‘s kind of a cross between The Poet X and I‘m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. A coming of age story of a Mexican American girl in southern CA. I liked it, and I liked the poetry in it. There‘s also a bit about Zines, which is pretty cool and maybe my favorite part. That‘s what the cover references. Cool book.

Also, Froedrick And Igor 😊🐱💙 #PetsofLitsy

I picked this up on my last Library visit for my #LitsyAtoZ #LetterQ author. The story is good, but this cover... ew. Ugliest cover award? Probably.

Trying to incorporate more Latinx authors in my reading this year. What are you reading this week?

When I first read Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero, it was an absolute revelation. Gabi's voice is just phenomenal--she's a fully realized person sharing her (very complicated!) life with the reader. It was therefore such a pleasure to discuss this book with a group of students who connected so beautifully with the novel and protagonist. We're really proud of this newest episode of @unabridgedpod.⠀
⠀
Have you read Gabi? What do you think?

#AugustIsATrip Day 10: A novel from #Mexico, this is an important novel for a lot of young people in all its brazen language, its fearless attempt to cut to the heart of emerging womanity, and what it feels like to be constantly plagued by self-consciousness that eats at one‘s insides. My full review here: https://wp.me/pDlzr-9Uu

💜💜💜

#WordGirlinTitle

@thereadingwomen #ReadingWomenMonth

Holy fireworks Batman💥 This book has all the feelings. What a ride. Loved the poetry. Loved Gabi and her friends. They felt so real. 💥💥💥💥💥 5 explosion good

Isabel Quintero stopped by the collection to talk about her books, mainly Gabi. Teachers fresh from today‘s march for ed came by to share how their students connect with Gabi. We talked poetry, stereotypes, book biz—and I got to work book sales (you can take the girl out of the bookstore...).

#MountTBR

Yay! First book completed off my tbr pile for #MountTbrchallenge . My goal is 12 books, one a month. Sounds reasonable right?! Let's hope I don't fail at it this year like I did last year!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️'s for Gabi, a Mexican American teen age girl navigating high school and dealing with grief, religion, teen pregnancy, race, class, addiction and sexism and that's just the beginning. It's a bit much but loved her voice and spirit.

📖🍽🎧 #Audiobook #BooksWithDinner #DiverseReads #YA
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finshed listening to this diverse coming of age story btwn chores & making dinner tonight.

I loved Gabi, with her wonderfully snarky personality & love of poetry as she chronicles how she deals with everything life throws at her during senior yr including a pregnant best friend & an addict father.
Full of heart & humor, Gabi & her over protective Latin family are absolutely relatable.

The holidays and the last couple of weeks just about did me in. I've been exhausted so I took a little reprieve from lists, and reading/photo challenges. Now I'm ready to dive back in with #litsypartyofone and some POC reads.

Gabi, Girl in Pieces: Gabi is A Mexican-American high school student—and poet! The book is told through her diary, poems, and other writings from her senior year. As you can see from the quote, this YA but not light—the characters go through a lot.

This a very good, but very heavy novel. It was an excellent story. I enjoyed it. I prefer my YA lighter.

All the CWs for this one.

I am enjoying this novel. It is very well-written, but man is it sad. All the triggers. I really want to make sure I balance this novel with other less- burdened stories.

“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked...” -Allen Ginsberg

Finding Hamilton inspiration in this dark story is so strange.

“I am seeing the best minds of my generation waste away in pestilence and starvation.”

2/5 stars. The author includes so many intense topics that she wasn't able to go into depth about any of them. The narrator didn't sound like a senior in high school, but rather a middle schooler or freshman. I don't know if it was just because of the diary format, but all of the other characters felt flat. It was a struggle to get to the end. #ya #youngadult #mexicanamerican #diversity #teenpregnancy #addict #abortion #rape #lgbtq+

This book hit home for me in a lot of ways, even though I'm very different from Gabi. Grapples with a lot of difficult topics (death, rape, drugs, sex, abortions, pregnancy, coming out, and so much more). The diary format brought me right back to being 17. Highly recommend, but read with care. #inls530

A good YA read. Honest. Good discussion of issues of race, sex, addiction, and family thru the eyes of 17 year old Gabi. I love Gabi. She's so honest and hilarious. I was rooting for her the whole time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Next up for YA lit! #inls530

Let's help fund more classrooms especially since using the code gets your donation matched! Donate and/or signal boost! https://www.donorschoose.org/project/its-about-teaching-the-reader-not-the/26644...

(Also one of my favorite books)

https://mobile.twitter.com/Jessie_Devine/status/897477683327549440

Written in a diary style, some details were passed over quickly. A book about a girl surrounded by people who are stereotypes and have no chances in life, but she will manage to get out.

#crazycovers #marchintorreading

It seems like everyone's divided on this one...you either love it or hate it. I personally love it and all the more after learning its context.

This book is cracking me up with its sharp, sassy, wicked sense of humor! Loving it so far 🙌🏾

Gabi's zine. These are the breasts.

#currentlyreading Meth addict father, gay and pregnant bffs, weight issues, and more. Diary format and I'm loving it. #litsyAtoZ

Was thrilled to find this at the library yesterday. Not thrilled that I can't listen on 1.5x speed like I do digital audiobooks. But still excited to listen. Have you met Gabi yet?

100 books read on Litsy! Gabi, a Girl in Pieces gets the honour for this totally meaningless milestone. (Not all 100 read since getting Litsy, of course. I didn't really spend time finding books I'd already read when I joined, but I'm adding them haphazardly as I think of them or come across them.)

#ReadJanuary A few books waiting in my #TBR with #GirlintheTitle I know I have more, but I liked this graphics better😜I think next month we need to do a photo prompt with #BoyintheTitle pretty sure I won't have as many 🤓and what's up with girls wearing colored coats???

I finished this book and immediately wished I could give Gabi a hug. What a great character. Fierce, independent, smart, loyal. There's a lot going on in this book - drug addiction, teenaged pregnancy, the stresses of high school, family, friends and relationships, a gay friend coming out, and the struggles that Gabi faces caught between two worlds (her traditional Mexican family and her dreams of a more 'American' life). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's about 1.5 h more to midnight here in NorCal and this is going to be my final read of 2016! I'm already in bed and there's no way I'm gonna make it to midnight despite my neighbours' love for fireworks. And so happy new year to one and all! May 2017 bring all sorts of good reads! #bypartyimeanreadbooks

And the preparation for #LitsyAtoZ continues with a couple more book purchases thanks to my mamá and my momma-in-law's sweet generosity. Hooray for Christmas gift cards! 😄🎄📚😊

I really enjoyed this. Quick and great read. What stands out is Gabi's voice and personality. Not your every day protagonist. I love how in between the lines are great reflections & quotables. How Gabi learns to be/is a bad ass feminist, makes mistakes, and then learns from those. Definitely recommended!
#diversebooks #diversereads #Gabireadalong

Started reading Gabi today! #Gabireadalong Only 10% in and can't believe what a quick read it has been thus far and how much diversity I have already encountered. Why can't all books be like this?

I'm in between, part-way through, and undecided on various inclusions in this stack. Hoping December brings some settled brain space and reading opportunities. Have y'all read any of these yet?

Took me a while to get used to the tone of the book, and I had to keep reminding myself that the protagonist was a teenager, because in the middle of all the angst there would be these bursts of insight that would blow me away.

Also, would like to issue a moratorium in using the r-word in fiction.

#GabiReadalong

Guess who just got upgraded to business. Whelp this means I can stretch my legs on this flight while I continue with #GabiReadalong

Time to start #GabiReadalong! #braoff

I totally forgot to promote this on Litsy, but over on Twitter, I'm leading a readalong for Gabi, A Girl In Pieces from Dec. 1st-15th with a Twitter chat at 8PM EST on the 15th. I'm announcing the giveaway details tomorrow! We will be sharing our impressions & favorite quotes under the #GabiReadalong hashtag on Twitter & if you want to participate, you can use the hashtag on Litsy too! My Twitter handle is @_diversebooks

#BookClub #Readalong

This book is breaking my heart

Story of my life. Loved this quick read as much as I love the hot Cheetos that were mentioned multiple times throughout the book. It was a light fun read with no major twist or heavy plot line but still very enjoyable. Gabi's life as a Mexican American from immigrant parents is not the easiest or glamorous (especially as a female) but I love how she embraces her culture flaws and all.

OH Eric 👊🏼