Book Review Gabi: A Girl in Pieces

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. TX: Cinco Puntos

Gabi is a Mexican American teenage girl in her last year of high school. The novel is written in first person narrative using her voice. I loved this book due to Gabi fearlessness and vulnerability. This novel was full of presence and depth. Gabi is an overweight teenage who is trying to have a body positive image, but she is constantly dealing with fat shaming from her mother, aunt, and classmates. Being a plus size women myself now and when I was teenager. In my mind I wasn’t obese I just had curves, hips, and a butt. I couldn’t wear anything in the junior’s section. I immediate identified with Gabi. This was just one of the many issues that the book dealt with. For Gabi it was emotional eating, the plot did not give a lot of attention or detail to this, but it was a very significant part of Gabi as a person and finding her voice. 

Gabi best friend Sebastian comes out of the closet as gay at the beginning of the book. He goes through a struggle with his family coming to terms with his sexuality and him navigating those feelings of rejection and shame. He is kicked out of his him and moves in with Gabi for a while.  Then there is her other best friend Cindy who is date raped and become pregnant. Gabi has her thoughts on slut-shaming and teen pregnancy. Gabi has this strong sense of empowerment about women having sexual thoughts and actions and that does not make them a slut or trash. The book also has an intense abortion seen but the character is never made to feel ashamed or less than. In my opinion that was very brave of the author and was refreshing. It made Cindy seem human and vulnerable I was definite in tears on that part.

         Gabi’s father is a meth addict, and he isn’t in the book a lot as the reader we get to view how difficult this is for Gabi she is mourning him and watching him slowly die in front of her. How many young adults can relate to a family member that deals with any addiction at all. Gabi’s voice and perceptive gives the reader a voice and help them feel likes someone else is going through the same things that they are. Race was also a theme is the book because culturally you see Gabi as a Mexican American, the author uses Spanish casually and the description of the delicious foods and culture.

         There is a suicide in this book. It is significant to Gabi. Gabi decides to write letters to the deceased character, telling them how much she misses and loves them. This is a very intense part of the book, but it was beautifully written and shows the grief that Gabi goes through but also the healing and acceptance part. There were a lot of heavy deep topics that were addressed in this book. Some were handled better than others but overall it was an emotional, vulnerable, and transparent novel of a 17-year-old girl going through all the difficult hard to talk about things of life.  The book has won several awards. It received the Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, William C. Morris YA Debut Award, California Book Award for Young Adult, and a Lincoln Award Nominee. Below is a link to author’s website.

Grade Level Recommendation: 9-12^th

https://laisabelquintero.com/

Book Review The Knife of Never Letting Go

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press

       The book setting begins in a small community of Presntisstown where everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts. The main character is a 12-year-old boy, Todd Hewitt who is about to turn 13 and become a man. His parents are dead, and he lives with his caretakers Ben and Cillian, and his dog, Manchee.  In Presntisstown there are no women. Quickly at the beginning of the book the reader can immediately tell that Todd is not a very educated boy due to the grammar mistakes in his dialogue. Todd is excited to turn 13 and he is also the last child in Presntisstown. Things quickly change when he is forces to flee the town after uncovering something shocking. While he is running for freedom and his life, he soon realizes that Prentisstown is far from the place he thought it was.

      So right from the start as the reader is was difficult for me to attach to Todd as the main character due to his undereducation and the style the book was written in. I am not a very big fan of science fiction young adult literature as I am the realistic fiction due to the fact the science fiction books don’t make sense to the logical side of me. Also, its hard for me to have emotional ties to the characters in the books. Sadly, the same was true for The Knife of Never Letting Go. It is a dark, fast-paced story about a boy who has grown up in an unkind world. He is struggling morally and intelligently to survive in this world. I would recommend this book to young adults since this genre of dystopia mixed with science fiction is popular. I whole heartily believe in free choice in reading. Students should be reading books that they enjoy simply for the enjoyment of reading.  This is the first book in a series of books it is a trilogy. The second book is The Ask and the third and final book is The Answer Below I have linked Patrick Ness website below.

https://patrickness.com/

Grade Level Recommendation: 9-12th 

Book Review Monster

Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. NY: Harper

Monster by Walter Dean Myers was written almost twenty years ago but it feels like it was written yesterday.  United States African American males make up 59% of the prison population although they only make up 29% of the total Unites States of America population. As I was reading this heart wrenching poignant novel these statics played through my mind. Steve Harmon is a 16-year-old black man on trial for accessory to murder. He is implicated in a robbery gone bad and a man is left dead. The story is told from Steve’s point of view via a screen play and journal writing format.  The book contains stage headings, type shots, and a script along the main character Steve through his personal thoughts during the court case and his time in the detention center. The story also includes the guys that he is in jail with, prosecutor, defense attorney and his family.

The novel takes you through his court case and ends with his verdict. The book themes included justice and racism. I became overwhelming emotional reading this book because Steve could be my nephew, cousins, students, and neighbors. Steve is the unarmed black kid that has been shot by police on the nightly news. Steve is the countless name to all the black and brown young men who are in jail or a juvenile center facing the same injustice that he is. Through the dark and uncomfortable scenes this book also offers hope. Hope through Steve trying to stay hopeful in a hopeless situation. This book will open the dialogue on race, criminal justice system, and the systematic prison reform that needs to take place in this country. This book has won many awards Michael L. Pintz Award 2000, Coretta Scott Kind Award for Author Honor 2000, Boston Globe- Horn Book Award Nominee for Fiction 1999, Lincoln Award Nominee 2005, National Book Award Finalist for Young People Literature 1999.

Grade Level Recommendation: 9-12

Below is a video fo Walter Dean Myers discussing the book Monster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtlkXnf3-vY

Book Review It's Perfectly Normal Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex & Sexual Health

Harris, R. (2009). It’s perfectly normal. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press

This nonfiction book is the perfect guide for parents to open the dialogue with their child about sex. It covers subjects such as sexual activity, body parts, puberty, birth control and gender issues. The book has six chapters but is loaded with pertinent informational. I do believe that every parent should read the book first and decide if your child mature enough for the information presented. Then decide what chapters to read and when. The book also includes illustrations that in my opinion make it more relatable and brings in the adolescent aspect. The first chapter begins with the question what is sex? If goes over sex, gender, and sexual reproduction, sexual desire, and sexual intercourse.

Part 2 which is my favorite part of the book begins with a two-page spread that shows all different types of human bodies. This is very powerful for a child going through puberty particularly girls who start having periods and developing as early as nine. It will open the dialogue on how all bodies are different and unique. It promotes positive body image and giving your child a sense of self esteem and confidence. In Chapter 3 it covers puberty. It begins discussing the changes and messages of puberty and hormones. It also has a chapter discussing only masturbation. I’m sure this topic is extremely difficult to discuss with both girls and boys. We need more books like this that help parents answer the questions that kids need answers to. As your child matures and has question parents can turn to this book for the answers.

Grade Level Recommendation: 6-8

Recommended Reading: Robie H, Harris has written two more books to complete the family library for every age.

It's So Amazing 

Ages: 7-10 

It's NOT the Stork! 

Ages: 4-7 

 

Book Review Lily and Dunkin

Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. NY: Delacorte

Lily and Dunkin is a courageous book. It is raw and emotional story of two kids experiencing two very different life experiences. Tim who is a transgender boy named Lily must deal with his unmatched physical body yearning to be a girl. Norbet/Dunkin is dealing with bipolar disorder. Despite both characters individual lives, they form a bond of friendship.  The novel also illustrates the importance of close family relationships that support youth as they develop and mature. In my opinion the author was not able to develop both characters to their full potential. These two topics are very serious to write about and develop. I believe the author does use other elements to develop the plot into a good novel. She uses humor, insight, and compassion throughout the novel.

 I do believe that this novel is important and should be in the hands of middle school because representation and exposure matters. There are not enough books on awareness of mental illness and transgender for the middle school aged children. This is that part of life where they are trying to figure out what there normal is. Is there normal what family, friends, and society dictates and will they be accepted and love for who they are. This is a novel that can build connections and bridges to open dialogue and communication. In her author’s note Donna Gephart says that she hopes this story will open a pathway of empathy, compassion, and kindness.

Grade Level Recommendation: 7-12

Below is a video by Donna Gephart doing a book talk on Lily and Dunkin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07KniLJp7q4&t=3s

it was amazing

Book Review Annie on My Mind

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. NY: FSG

This is a realistic fiction young adult novel. It is a story about Liza, a budding architect whose dream is to attend MIT and her growing relationship with Annie, an inspiring singer who wants to attend Berkeley. They met at a museum and began the foundation of a trusting and meaningful friendship. However they both began to experience e feelings towards each other and their bond deepens. As they try to sort out their feeling for each other they are also being pulled in many directions due to external factors. Through Garden’s character development as the reader you become invested in their relationship and soon the novel blooms into a love story. A lesbian love story that was published in 1982! I believe that is the beauty of this novel and how it is still a valuable read for young adults in the LBGQT community. Think about how many young lesbian girls might be having the same experiences and emotion as Liza or Annie. These students may not feel comfortable talking to family or friends or have many scary and confusing thoughts. The novel speaks volumes to the powerful books available for the young adult audience. This is a banned book due to its mature themes and it was published in 1982. I would like to think that we as a nation of humans have become more sensitive and accepting of the LBGQT community, but that may not be the case everywhere. This book is important and valuable piece of young adult literature because of its content and themes. Like the dedication from Garden “this is for all of us” because we are the human race regardless sex or religion.

Grade Level: 9-12

Recommend book after reading Annie on my Mind:

 Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Keeping You a Secret by Julie Ann Peters

 

If You Could Be Mine: A Novel  by Sara Farizan

 

Book Review Lucky Broken Girl

Behar, R. (2017). Lucky broken girl. NY: Delacorte

Lucky Broken Girl is a semi- autobiographical novel based on the author’s life as Ruth Behar. Ruth is growing up in 1960’s NYC. She is Jewish Cuban immigrant from Cuba. The novel focuses on the year Ruth was in a full body cast following a horrific accident. The writing is richly detailed. The diversity of the characters is wonderful. It allows the reader to paint a vivid image of the characters in the novel. Ruth and her family are Cuban but are also Jewish so they demonstrate a wealth of cultural identity. Ruth’s grandparents left Europe during the events that led up to World War II and then had to leave Cuba during the revolution. Ruth and her family are Cuban but are also Jewish so they demonstrate a wealth of cultural identity. Ruth's grandparents had left Europe during the buildup to the World War II and then had to leave Cuba during the revolution. Knowing the family background made me appreciate the authentic family dynamics, a father who is proud and optimistic about living in the US, a mother who misses her life in Cuba. I wonder how many middle aged immigrant readers would be able to make a self-to text connection. The middle of the book was a little slow dragging there wasn’t much movement along the plot line. I did listen to the audio book version of this novel and the author’s voice was a bit mono tone. Despite that the novel had an overwhelming theme of hope and forgiveness. Ruth Behar received the Pura Belpré Award for Author in 2018 for Lucky Broken Girl.

Below is a link to the author’s website

http://www.ruthbehar.com/