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American Girl: Gabriela #3
Gabriela: Time for Change (American Girl: Girl of the Year 2017, Book 3)
American Girl's 2017 Girl of the Year, Gabriela, makes some tough decisions in her third story.
Gabby has never been so busy! In this third novel featuring American Girl's 2017 Girl of the Year, Gabby is already juggling homework, school leadership activities, dance classes, and rehearsals for a spoken word competition when she's offered an exciting dance opportunity. It's too good to pass up, but soon, Gabby finds there aren't enough hours in the day to do it all, let alone be a good friend to her BFF, Teagen. And she can't help but notice that more and more, she wishes she were working on her poetry instead of doing pliés and grand jetés. Gabby's changed a lot this past year. By the time the competition rolls around, she begins to wonder--have her dreams changed, too?
Gabby has never been so busy! In this third novel featuring American Girl's 2017 Girl of the Year, Gabby is already juggling homework, school leadership activities, dance classes, and rehearsals for a spoken word competition when she's offered an exciting dance opportunity. It's too good to pass up, but soon, Gabby finds there aren't enough hours in the day to do it all, let alone be a good friend to her BFF, Teagen. And she can't help but notice that more and more, she wishes she were working on her poetry instead of doing pliés and grand jetés. Gabby's changed a lot this past year. By the time the competition rolls around, she begins to wonder--have her dreams changed, too?
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2017
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147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 10, 2018
This book was really sweet. I was pretty much in tears at the end! Lol. But I don’t want to make this a spoiler review. I think the American girl books have really evolved in a fantastic way. The characters are amazing people and it makes me sad that they’re not actually modeled after real people anymore! Lol. But what Gabriella does in this book is done with more strength and grace than a lot of adults could even show in their everyday lives. And watching her grow and change throughout the last three books made me feel like I really knew her and could root for her. The one thing I will say is that with this book being so heavy on the poetry it’s a stark difference from the first one that I have very fond memories of reading on sunny warm beach days while I read this one primarily freezing in my kitchen before going to work this week, lol.... was very much about dance. I even remember the doll they made about her had a lot of dancing gear and outfits so that’s a little confusing but as we all know changing hobbies and dreams and goals is a normal thing that happens as we go through life.
January 23, 2018
I can relate to Gabriella in this book! We both have so many activities going on at the same time In this book Gabi is trying to juggle preparing for a poetry slam, being, a student ambassador, making two Halloween costumes, taking ballet lessons and maintaining a friendship with her best friend Tegan and new friend Aliyah. Gabriella knows she can't keep up with all her activities but continues to juggle them all for fear of disappointing her loved ones. However when her performance in all these activities suffer and puts strain on her friendship with Tegan Gabriella decides its time to let go of one these activities. Which one will it be?
I really like how this book reminds girls (ands adults) that you cannot do everything or be everything for everyone. Sometimes you need to let something go so that you can give energy to something else. I also like how this book tells girls it's great to make new friends but don't forget the ones who have always been there.
I love how this book tells girls that dreams and goals can change and that's OK.
I really like how this book reminds girls (ands adults) that you cannot do everything or be everything for everyone. Sometimes you need to let something go so that you can give energy to something else. I also like how this book tells girls it's great to make new friends but don't forget the ones who have always been there.
I love how this book tells girls that dreams and goals can change and that's OK.
October 25, 2018
The good
Gabriela and her friends act like real middle school students.
Gabriela has an amazing speech therapist who gives her tools and techniques to help her with her stutter.
the poetry
Gabriela's mom is amazing she's proud of her for following her dreams.
"Gabby, sometimes, as w change, our dreams change, too, and there's nothing wrong with that."
Gabriela quits ballet to follow her dreams of poetry and being an ambassador and to have time to spend with friends.
Gabriela's ballet teacher Amelia is amazing
"Oh, Gabby, of course I want you to go en pointe, but only if that's what you want to do."
the bad
Thinking that someone being mean deserves for you to be mean back? Really? Have these kids not heard "treat people how you want to be treated" and "be kind to everyone." Apparently not.
Gabby and Teagan date night - why didn't Gabby just say Gabby and Teagan night? They are friends the date part was unnecessary.
Gabriela and her friends act like real middle school students.
Gabriela has an amazing speech therapist who gives her tools and techniques to help her with her stutter.
the poetry
Gabriela's mom is amazing she's proud of her for following her dreams.
"Gabby, sometimes, as w change, our dreams change, too, and there's nothing wrong with that."
Gabriela quits ballet to follow her dreams of poetry and being an ambassador and to have time to spend with friends.
Gabriela's ballet teacher Amelia is amazing
"Oh, Gabby, of course I want you to go en pointe, but only if that's what you want to do."
the bad
Thinking that someone being mean deserves for you to be mean back? Really? Have these kids not heard "treat people how you want to be treated" and "be kind to everyone." Apparently not.
Gabby and Teagan date night - why didn't Gabby just say Gabby and Teagan night? They are friends the date part was unnecessary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2020
And wow, the last book had me in tears by the time I finished. Not only because of how similar we were, but because the growth I saw in Gabriela reflected the growth I have faced too with my stutter, and also the lessons about holding onto and letting go of dreams just resonated with me so much, especially as I am now growing up and having to think about my career path. The problems and lessons Gabriela faced and learned as an 11 year old are things I still face to this day as a 17 year old, so this series really hit home and had me an emotional wreck when I finished.
Book 1 Synopsis: Gabriela loves dancing, from tap, to hip hop, to ballet, dance is so important to her. She has also recently gotten into poetry, which really helps with her stuttering. Gabby’s talents are threatened when the city decides they may close her community arts center, Liberty Arts. Gabby must use her dance and poetry talents to rally the community and save Liberty Arts.
Again, these books are so friendly, insightful, and talk on harder subjects in a way that is easy for kids to read and understand. CHECK THEM OUT FOR YOUR DAUGHERS.
Book 1 Synopsis: Gabriela loves dancing, from tap, to hip hop, to ballet, dance is so important to her. She has also recently gotten into poetry, which really helps with her stuttering. Gabby’s talents are threatened when the city decides they may close her community arts center, Liberty Arts. Gabby must use her dance and poetry talents to rally the community and save Liberty Arts.
Again, these books are so friendly, insightful, and talk on harder subjects in a way that is easy for kids to read and understand. CHECK THEM OUT FOR YOUR DAUGHERS.
April 26, 2021
This third book in the American Girl Gabriela series ends on a positive note, completing her character growth arc from throughout the series. This book is by a different author than the first two, but the writing style and character continuity are seamless, and the book is full of complex, real-world situations and emotions. I'm glad that I read this series, and appreciate how relatable the characters are for kids dealing with friendship challenges, new interests and opportunities, and decision-making issues.
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August 9, 2022I don't formally review AG books because I'm so far from the target audience that it doesn't feel remotely fair, but I want to say that Gabriela's books are very, very moving, and this book made me SOB. I loved this book's look at giving up a dream you had because you realize it no longer fits what you want to do. This is something I think even adults could read and relate to - I certainly did.
September 18, 2020
This was a great book full of lots of changes and growth for Gabriela. I love that she’s into poetry and I like how the book focused on dreams, learning when to let one go and learning that it’s okay to let go of and change dreams.
April 9, 2021
By far my favorite book in the series! Well written with impactful themes.
October 29, 2021
Interesting
May 13, 2025
I feel like I read the same book three times.
April 30, 2022
Book 3, the end to this amazing series following Miss Gabby. So good. I swear, I bawl my eyes out in every American Girl book, and this one was no exception. I absolutely love Gabby's drive and tenacity, such an amazing family dynamic! Excellent book for adults and young girls alike.
October 22, 2022
Full series review for Gabriela:
There's some controversy around Gabriela's GOTY status--I don't know how much (if any) truth there is to it, but the conspiracy is that Tenney was meant to be the GOTY and was replaced last-minute by Gabriela due to criticisms of AG not having enough diversity and specifically the disproportional amount of white blondes. Either way, Gabriela is infinitely more compelling than Tenney and I loved her story arc. The first book centers on her trying to help re-open the community arts center that her mom runs after a disaster she blames herself for. The second echoes Changes For Julie in its storyline about running for student government and being tempted to sacrifice her principles for political power, and the third follows her struggle to balance a wide array of hobbies and extracurriculars while maintaining old and new friendships, along with the theme of losing interest in something which was once a defining passion--a storyline I find immensely relatable but which I rarely see in books. She also has a stutter, which is delved into in the books as well. Gabriela's books also have very engaging side casts, which cannot be said about some of the other GOTY books.
There's some controversy around Gabriela's GOTY status--I don't know how much (if any) truth there is to it, but the conspiracy is that Tenney was meant to be the GOTY and was replaced last-minute by Gabriela due to criticisms of AG not having enough diversity and specifically the disproportional amount of white blondes. Either way, Gabriela is infinitely more compelling than Tenney and I loved her story arc. The first book centers on her trying to help re-open the community arts center that her mom runs after a disaster she blames herself for. The second echoes Changes For Julie in its storyline about running for student government and being tempted to sacrifice her principles for political power, and the third follows her struggle to balance a wide array of hobbies and extracurriculars while maintaining old and new friendships, along with the theme of losing interest in something which was once a defining passion--a storyline I find immensely relatable but which I rarely see in books. She also has a stutter, which is delved into in the books as well. Gabriela's books also have very engaging side casts, which cannot be said about some of the other GOTY books.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews