Gabriela started using daydreams to escape the deteriorating relationship between her parents. When her parents divorce, she is moved from her familiar neighborhood and school, where she had very few relationships anyway, and sent to a new school. Anticipating that she will be the “new, weird” girl, she does not end up making new friends easily. Her daydreams begin to take over her life. Gabriela drifts off during class, when she is at home, triggered often just by a single word.  Gabbie’s life and daydreams are all told in verse, and Nikki Grimes makes us acquainted with Gabbie in beautiful poetry. One of my favorites is “Comet”: “Say ‘comet,’/and I am weightless, playing ping-pong/with small planets,/dodging asteroids,/and skipping through space/in slow motion.”  Gabriela has a teacher who encourages her to dream while her mother is frustrated by her daughter’s lack of focus.

I am not a huge poetry fan, but Nikki Grimes makes it worth reading.