Common Sense Media Review
By Terreece Clarke
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun American Girl Doll story about finding your voice.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In GABRIELA, main character Gabby McBride has a favorite place -- her mother's dance studio, Liberty Arts -- where she and other people in their community share their love of the arts through dance, art, and poetry. In that safe place she conquers her stutter and joins her cousin's spoken word poetry group. When Gabby and her friends want to add something special to the annual showcase, they make a big mistake, and now the community center may be shut down! Can Gabby and her friends find their voices to save a place they all love?
Is It Any Good?
Funny and heartfelt, this book will instantly make readers love Liberty Arts as much as the main character does. Author Teresa A. Harris' snappy dialogue, slice-of-life scenes, and upbeat messaging make Gabriela easy to get into without coming across as too saccharine or preachy for average kids. The book deals with a common issue for kids -- stuttering -- and Gabby explores several techniques for coping with it and learns to speak up for herself when others try to "help" her by drowning her out.
Parents will be pleased that Gabriela doesn't dwell on the American Girl brand, even though it's impossible to miss with the cover design and additional marketing materials, such as the American Girl website where readers can find more doll-based adventures.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Gabriela merchandise is marketed to kids. Would you be interested in this book if it weren't tied to the American Girl Doll brand? Did you want to buy the doll after reading the story?
Families can also talk about Gabriela's coping techniques for her stutter. Do you have techniques for overcoming issues that affect you, such as anger, shyness, and figuring out the meanings of new words? Do you have a trusted friend or adult who can help you develop those techniques?
Gabriela's best friend speaks for her when her stuttering begins. How is that harmful to Gabriela? How is she able to finally speak up about it? Have you ever had to speak up when a friend was hurting you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Arts , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
- Publication date : February 28, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 208
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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