Gabby has seen her friends and family winning, so it's only right for her to be a winner at something. Gabby decides to enter a cooking contest, and hijinks ensue! Dominguez helps us learn to work with our abilities and to ask for help when you need it. The Best Winner Ever will be loved by graphic novel fans young and old.

I received an ARC from Roaring Book Press via NetGalley. The Gabby Torres series reads like an early chapter book crossed with a graphic novel. The art is good and makes the series easy and fun to read for 3rd and 4th graders.

Similar to the first book in the series, Gabby is involved in an animal activist group and this time they are helping river otters. However, that storyline takes a backseat to Gabby wanting to win a big prize like some of her friends. Gabby enters a baking competition. While I enjoy Gabby’s family dynamic, she felt more obnoxious and selfish in this book and the lessons she learned didn’t feel as rewarding. I will continue to read the series to see what Gabby is up to next.

We loved Gabby Torres in her first book so much, that we added her to next year's Battle of the Book's list. So, I was thrilled to spend some time with her second adventure and to hear more adventures are coming. Gabby's adventures and personality traits are interesting and fun to read about. There's so much worth chatting about along the way! These would make great read alouds or small group books because there's so much that would inspire kids to talk! I love the ideas and creativity involved in Gabby's recipes as well. Definitely want to task some of them! All and all worth adding to classroom libraries, school libraries and home libraries.

I love Gabby Torres! She's the fabulous fourth-grade heroine that we need these days. The humor in this book is fantastic, as are the characters and random facts that we learn along the way. Highly recommended for kids library collections, along with the first book in this series.

Book 104 of 350 ~ 2025

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I enjoyed this that I now want to look for Gabby's earlier adventures and read the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Gabby is back in Book 2 and delightful and unconsciously mischievous as ever. Determined to show that she is as eco-conscious as the older kids in Sea Musketeers, the group dedicated to protecting the ocean environment, Gabby decides to enter a baking contest which she erroneously thinks will give a large cash prize to the winner, which she can in turn donate to the river otters fund.

The prose/graphic hybrid lends itself to Gabby's personality, and readers are quickly swept into her world. The Gabby series will be loved by those who read Junie B. Jones, Clementine, and Babysitter's Club graphic novels.

Gabby is definitely NOT the best winner lol!


This diary-style formatted graphic novel takes readers through Gabby’s mission to being a winner, which is very ironic because during this process she shows very few characteristics of a good winner. As we go along Gabby’s journey towards winning a baking competition we see displays of determination, responsibility (and lack of), humor, and just a wee bit of growth towards the end. This is the perfect book for middle-school aged lovers of graphic novels maybe even older elementary school children who enjoy helping out in the kitchen, as the ingredients for recipes are pictured!


Thank you NetGalley and MacmillanChildren'sPublishing Group for the ARC!

I got this book to read to see if this would be a graphic novel my students would like and I know they’ll love it! They love graphic novels like this one that just pull you in with a relatable character. This one is a perfect middle grade graphic novel that I know my students will love and the middle graders you know will love too.

Such a cute follow up to book 1! Gabby is a girl that just wants to fit in, in her own way...just like most middle graders!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian Children's publishing Group for early copy for review*

This was so cute. Gabby is a great example for young girls. She has so much confidence and determination. It reminded me of Amelia's Notebook which I read when I was Gabby's age. This perfect for early elementary age children.

I got this one for my kiddo and it was great! She loves graphic novels and she devoured this book. She loves it and she is a competitive kid so this was a good one for her to read!

Gabby Torres is the Best Winner Ever is the second book in the Gabby Torres series, and it’s just as fun and heartwarming as the first. It’s the perfect mix between a chapter book and a graphic novel, super engaging and easy to follow for young readers.

Gabby is a passionate 9 year old from Chicago who gives everything she does 110%. In this story, she’s competing in a baking contest and learns that winning isn’t everything. The way the story handles that lesson feels real and relatable, without being preachy.

This book is great for kids who are starting the transition from graphic novels to chapter books, and for parents who want stories with meaningful takeaways. It’s funny, sweet, but mostly it’s accurately a 9 year old girl. Gabby is the kind of character you root for all the way through.

The visuals are vibrant and the tone leans dramatic, giving off Junie B. Jones energy with a modern twist. Gabby’s intrusive thoughts were a highlight they brought humor and personality to the page. My favorite thing was the ingredients in the baking recipes.

However, as a main character, Gabby is frustrating. She’s selfish, overly competitive, and not the most thoughtful friend or daughter. There are several moments where it seems like growth is coming, but the lessons don’t stick. That lack of development made the story feel repetitive and, at times, grating.

While it has potential and a unique voice, I was hoping for more depth and clearer character progression.

“Gabby Torres Is the Best Winner Ever”is a diary-style book with comic panels and a simple art style.

It follows nine-year-old Gabby, who is determined to become a winner by entering a local baking contest. Along the way, she faces some challenges, like needing to understand money in order to buy baking supplies.

While the story did feel a bit repetitive at times, it delivered a nice message about how winning isn’t everything.

Overall, it’s an okay read for younger kids.

Stuck by Kayla Miller, the seventh installment in the Click graphic novel series, once again follows Olive and her friends. In this story, Olive's hopes for a fun and relaxing time at Camp Acorn Lake are quickly dashed when two of her closest friends stop speaking to each other.

Olive finds herself caught in the middle of their conflict, and any attempt to mediate only seems to worsen the situation. As Olive navigates this friendship drama, she also tries to focus on a new challenge: improving the camp.

Miller's vibrant illustrations and relatable storytelling capture the complexities of middle-school friendships. Stuck explores themes of navigating disagreements, the challenges of being caught in the middle, and the importance of communication and empathy.

This was a really cute graphic novel! I loved getting to know the story of Gabby Torres and how she just strived to win a competition, but realized that winning isn't all that it seems. Great characters, cute drawings, fun art style, and creative story.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy to review!

"Gabby Torres is the Best Winner Ever" is the second book in the middle grade graphic novel series by Angela Dominguez. Gabby is set on becoming the best baker, and what better way to prove it than by winning the local grocery store's baking competition! Baking isn't easy and Gabby learns about prices and recipes along the way. Illustrations are bright, colorful, and humorous. Funny and helpful, this is a must buy for middle grade graphic novel collections, especially where the first book is popular.

This is adorable. I really like the novel/graphic novel format. Its very accessible for young readers
Gabby is a cutie

Gabby is into winning at everything. She is also into helping the environment. So, when she hears about a cooking contest for kids, with a grand prize of $1000, she figures she can win, and donate the money to the river otters.

So, she becomes obsessed with making the most complicated things ever, finally settling on Baked Alaska. I laughed when I saw that, because when I was her aga, I too, along with my siblings, that would be the best thing to make. Who wouldn’t want a cake with ice cream in it. Well, I’m sure you can figure out what happened when she tried to make it on her own.

Cute story about learning to work within our abilities, and also to ask for help when you need it.

This is the second book in the series, but it isn’t necessary to have read the first one. Both are fast paced, and funny, as you see the scrapes that Gabby gets herself into.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 2nd of December 2025.

A sweet, entertaining story that combines humor, heart, and a love of baking!

Had to consult my middle school daughter for this review. She happens to love baking and graphic novels!

A Delightful Graphic Novel for Young Bakers and Dreamers!

If your middle schooler loves baking and graphic novels, Gabby Torres: Baking Up a Storm is a perfect pick! Gabby, with her passion for baking and a heart full of determination, takes on a local grocery store's baking competition. But as she quickly learns, there's more to winning than just having the right supplies—especially when you’re balancing your budget and your parents' patience!