"Well, what is a Mexican supposed to look like? Am I supposed to be brown and short? Carry a leaf blower on my back? Speak with a thick accent? Say things like 'I no spik ingles?' Should I have dark hair and dark eyes, like my mother and grandmother?"

I adored Gabi A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero. I wish it existed when I was in high school because I related to it so much. Even though Gabi is Mexican, I felt so seen in so many of the chapters. Quintero captured the teen mindset and Mexican Spanglish/slang so well it created a really authentic reading experience. The format of the book also made it more enjoyable. I really vibe with books that include mixed media and this one had diary entries, poems and even a zine.  Gabi is a protagonist that I will never forget. She's nerdy, quirky, observant, snarky, loving, loyal, with a solid moral compass and flexible. 

Quintero tackled so many relevant themes from the Mexican perspective that will resonate with many other Latine folx. There was fatphobia (internalized & societal), religion, sex and abstinence messaging, addiction (meth), teen pregnancy, racism, colorism, being first generation heading to college, queerness and misogyny. As I was reading, I could see this book in conversation with others such as:
📚 Poet X- Elizabeth Acevedo
📚 Fat Chance Charlie Vega- Crystal Maldonado
📚 I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter- Erika Sanchez
📚 Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass- Meg Medina

A big thank you to @leeandlow @hearourvoicestours for the gifted copy and tour opportunity. There is a reason this book is an award winner. If you are in the mood for a nostalgic read with authentic Mexican/Latine representation, give this one a try.