Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers
by Angela Dominguez; illus. by the author
Primary, Intermediate    Roaring Brook    160 pp.
1/25    9781250901378    $19.99
Paper ed.  9781250901361    $12.99
e-book ed.  9781250412171    $9.99

Exuberant nine-year-old Gabby Torres volunteers to start a social media account for her ocean-conservation club, the Sea Musketeers, to prove her maturity to its older members. Though her parents are initially wary, they ultimately agree to let her run the account under their strict supervision and with limited access. Gabby is excited to learn about hashtags, promote the club’s mission, and score new followers, but after she receives a rude comment from an anonymous account, she begins to view everyone—from friends to family members to teachers—as potential culprits. As her accusations intensify and her desire to identify the commenter drives her to break her parents’ rules, Gabby finds that her desperation is alienating those around her and distracting her from her good intentions. Dominguez has created an instantly endearing protagonist in Gabby: though she still has growth to undergo, her zeal feels wholly natural in a preteen whose enthusiasm for a cause and desire for acceptance override her common sense. Gabby’s close relationship with her Mexican American family provides an affectionate, grounding presence. While the story is not without its messages, it’s also charmingly funny. Vignette illustrations and/or comics panels on every page depict Gabby’s imaginative perception of the world (e.g., she assumes “Miss Information” is a woman who spreads fabrications online). Gabby’s future exploits are sure to have followers—though maybe not quite a billion.

From the March/April 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.