Gabriella lives with her mother at Fort White, and her mom is the new Bible teacher at Intlantsi. Her mother came to South Africa as a refugee months before Gabby's birth. The family background is Muslim, though Gabby has always been raised as a Christian since her mother came to know Jesus in South Africa. Gabby has an older brother whom she has never met, but she does speak to him on the phone. Gabriella is smart and inquisitive. She loves to read and write plays and is passionate about helping others.