How is the plot structured in the novel, Gabi, a Girl in Pieces?

Since Gabi’s story is written as a journal, it does not have the same plot development structure as a typical novel. Exposition really comes throughout the novel as Gabi is always giving the reader new information about what is happening in her life. There are few points in the novel that could be considered a climax. For instance, Gabi’s discovery of her father dead of an overdose in the garage is a climax to Gabi’s worry about her father and fear that he will be found dead. Gabi’s concern about her father could even be considered the rising action to this climax.

Another storyline that reaches a climax of sorts is that of Cindy’s pregnancy. This story starts early in the novel when Gabi and Cindy go to the pharmacy together to buy a pregnancy test and first discover that Cindy is pregnant. The story rises as Cindy carries the baby to term and delivers a healthy baby, a birth that Gabi gets to watch. The “action” in this story continues to rise even after the baby is born because Cindy admits to Gabi that German actually raped her. The climax comes when Gabi can hold in her anger no longer and attacks German. The falling action comes when Gabi learns that she will not be charged for attacking German and that officials from Berkley will not learn that Gabi was even suspended from school. The denouement comes as Gabi is preparing to celebrate graduation with friends and family.