One of my favorite YA novel is Gabi, A Girl in Pieces, by Isabel Quintero. The book addresses many of the isms we have discussed in class, race, being one of them. While this book is written in journal form, from Gabi's perspective, she writes in both English and provides background on her Mexican-American background. In the beginning of the book, I would ask the students if they thought Gabi was white, followed by a why/why not? The students would be making inferences based on the language and the descriptions used in the novel to tell what race they think she is. They could then reflect on why it is they thought she was a certain race. What are the stereotypes around people of this race?
Throughout the novel, she switches in her journal writing in both English, with a few spanish words here and there. I think it is important to encourage students to write in both languages that they speak. I think it would be awesome to ask the class what they think about the dual languages in the book and asking what the importance is of writing in two languages. This book will allow students to think critically about Gabi as a Mexican American growing up in the United States and the many stereotypes that follow her, as well as learn about the internalized oppression that she holds because she is different than some of her peers. The novel shows the growth of Gabi as a student from the beginning of the book and gains confidence to be herself, no matter where she is. At the end of the novel, the students could take the time to self reflect and consider how they felt while reading the book and why they felt that way.
After thinking about different ways to incorporate this novel in the class, I looked up a lesson that was already provided online with discussion questions. Many of these questions focus on Gabi's cultural and racial background. This book also covers, sexuality, body type, illness and disease, teen pregnancy and more, and there are discussion questions listed around those topics also.
No comments:
Post a Comment