Merci Suárez Changes Gears


Bibliography
Medina, Meg, 2018. MERCI SUÁREZ CHANGES GEARS. Somerville, Massachusetts. ISBN 9781536212587. 

Plot Summary
As if beginning sixth grade wasn't hard enough, Merci experiences hardships at school due to the fact she is a scholarship student at Seaward Pines Academy. Instead of living in a large mansion in Florida, her and her family live in three little houses, Las Casitas. While she is fortunate to have her family close and receive a good education, Merci still feels the hardships of life. At school, she has deal with mean girls and at home, she's being treated like a little kid. The only thing that make sense to Merci is her close relationship with her grandfather, Lolo, the only person who seems to understand her. However, he's been acting differently lately which has Merci concerned and confused. Readers will follow Merci's journey through sixth grade, as she matures, understands, and navigates life.

Critical Analysis
Medina writes of relatable events that could happen to anyone. Many people can sympathize with Merci as she is maturing and getting older, realizing she's not a kid anymore. As she begins sixth grade at Seaward Pines Academy, she's preparing herself for another tough school year. Despite being a part of the Sunshine Buddies program last year, Merci hasn't found a real friend at her new school. She spends most of her days at school and at Las Casitas, her family's connected homes. Most of the time, Merci is watching her twin cousins or spending time with Lolo, her grandfather. However, she's noticed he's been acting differently lately, which is due to his Alzheimer's disease. This story will relate to readers as most people can understand the tough journey of life, whether it be at home or in a school setting. Merci already feels like an outcast due to her scholarship status, her family is Cuban-American, but also because of her large responsibility of taking care of her cousins has isolated her from joining sports. All these events are very real and many readers experience these hardships and feelings. They will not only develop empathy for Merci's character, but also relate to her situations and feelings of confusion. 

Review Excerpt(s)
- John Newbery Medal
- Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Medina delivers another stellar and deeply moving story."
- Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "For whole class and small group reads, and for individual tweens looking for ways to navigate their own difficult rides, this beautiful novel is ripe for exploration."

Connections
- For readers interested in learning about the Cuban-American lifestyle told from the point of view of a sixth grader.
- Middle schoolers will be able to relate to the school related situations, understanding the "importance" of being popular and pressures of maturing. 
- Readers will enjoy getting to know Merci and her grandfather, as they share a close blond. They will feel instant empathy for Merci as her grandfather's Alzheimer's progresses.
- Similar book recommendations:
Dahl, Roald. MATILDA. ISBN 9780142410370
Medina, Meg. MERCI SUÁREZ CAN'T DANCE. ISBN 9781536228151
Medina, Meg. MERCI SUÁREZ PLAYS IT COOL. ISBN 978153623001

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Koala Lou

Image
  Bibliography Fox, Mem, 1988. KOALA LOU. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780152000769. Plot Summary Young Koala Lou yearns for the days when she was an only child and her mother would tell her how she loved her the most. As the years have passed and more siblings have arrived, Koala Lou thinks about what she can do to earn her mother's attention. With the Bush Olympics right around the corner, she enters the competition (specifically, the gum tree climbing event), dreaming of her victory and her mother telling her how much she loved her. Despite not winning the event, her mother is proud of her and reminds her of how much she loves her. Koala Lou learns that a mother's love is forever and does not have to win her over. Critical Analysis  Mem Fox has captured the sweet, eternal love a mother will always have her child. The main character, Koala Lou, recalls the moments when her mother would tell her she loved her most and how it uplifted her...
Read more

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation

Image
  Bibliography Tonatiuh, Duncan, 2014. SEPARATE IS NEVER EQUAL: SYLVIA MENDEZ & HER FAMILY'S FIGHT FOR DESEGREGATION. New York, NY: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781419710544. Plot Summary In 1947, Sylvia Mendez is excited to begin school in the new city her family moved to. When she walks through the door, she is immediately greeted with rudeness and is told to go to the Mexican school instead. Hurt and ashamed, she tells her mother she does not want to go to school anymore. Her mother listens to her sadness and reminds her to hold her head high, the Mendez family fought for the right to attend the Westminster school. She was being unfairly judged for her looks alone, despite being an American who spoke perfect English, all people saw was her dark hair and skin. Sylvia's mother reminds her of how her family fought for the same opportunity for the kids to attend a good school and have equal rights.  Critical Analysis  Duncan Tonatiuh shares the powerful, true ...
Read more

The Night Raven

Image
Bibliography Rundberg, Johan, 2020. THE NIGHT RAVEN. New York, NY: Amazon Crossing Kids. ISBN 9781662509582. Plot Summary It's a dark, cold night in Stockholm and Mika is running through her personal checklist of how to survive during the unbearable, freezing winters in the local orphanage. She suddenly hears a knock at the door and there is a boy holding a newborn child claiming the Dark Angel knows he has taken this child. Without any explanation, the boy takes off running, leaving Mika with many questions and another child to help care for. The Night Raven was a notorious serial killer in Stockholm and was supposed to be dead, now Mika is left wondering if somehow he is involved. With the help of a local detective, Mika will hunt out the truth and solve a murder. With this opportunity, Mika can become someone strong and who matters in this world, not allowing her only identity to be an orphan.  Critical Analysis Rundberg writes a suspenseful mystery, more specifically a murder i...
Read more