* "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

* "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... Her narration is fresh, self-aware, and reflective. The intimate journal structure of the novel is especially revealing as Gabi gains confidence in her own integrity and complexity." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"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 (Candlewick, 2013) and Junot Diaz's Drown (Riverhead, 1996) as a coming-of-age novel with Latino protagonists." -- School Library Journal

"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." -- National Public Radio (NPR)

"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, award-winning poet & U.S. Poet Laureate, 2015-2017

Amelia Bloomer Book List - American Library Association (ALA)
Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Finalist - The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN)
Américas Award Commended Title - Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs
Arkansas Teen Book Award Nominee - Arkansas State Library
Best Books for Teens Winner - New York Public Library
Best Books of the Year - School Library Journal
Best Books of the Year Winner - Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
Best Fiction for Young Adults - Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
Best Fiction for Young Adults Winner - Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
California Book Awards Winner - Commonwealth Club
Capitol Choices - Capitol Choices
Children's Books of the Year Winner - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Editors' Choice Books for Youth Winner - Booklist
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award Nominee - Indiana Library Federation
Land of Enchantment Book Award Winner - New Mexico Library Association
Los Angeles Public Library Best Books Winner - Los Angeles Public Library
Nutmeg Awards Nominee - Connecticut Library Association
Paterson Prize for Books for Young People - Passaic County Community College
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers - Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Winner - Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
Skipping Stones Book Awards Honor - Skipping Stones Magazine
TAYSHAS Reading List Winner - Texas Library Association (TLA)
Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award - Texas State University College of Education
Virginia Readers' Choice Nominee - Virginia State Literacy Association
William C. Morris YA Debut Award Winner - Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)