Pure middle school girl drama. I wasn’t ready for it. Merci Suarez isn’t ready either.
Things are changing for Mercedes Suarez, a sixth-grade scholarship student at the fancy Seaward Pines. She doesn’t have one teacher this year, but lots of them. Edna, the most popular girl in their grade, has lost interest in things like dolls and is busy planning boy-girl group dates. Merci’s stuck being a “Sunshine Buddy” to the new boy in school and the other girls won’t stop giggling over it.
At home in Las Casitas, things are changing, too. Roli will go off to college next year. Merci is stuck babysitting her twin cousins more and more. And Lolo, Merci’s abuelo, is acting strangely. He’s been making mistakes…asking Merci to keep secrets from her family…
Merci doesn’t like it.
Merci Suarez Changes Gears, Meg Medina’s 2019 Newberry Winner, is, at its heart, relatable, due to its engaging protagonist. Merci is strong-minded and caring and maybe just a little awkward. She loves her family but can be embarrassed by them. She gets wrapped up in her own problems and forgets that others are dealing with problems, too. She’s at an age where everything is changing, yet she wants to hold onto her childhood a little longer.
Medina, helps both Merci and the reader realize family, friendship, and forgiveness can give strength to handle change when it comes.
I love when books connect people, so if you are looking for a way to connect with a middle school daughter, reading Merci Suarez together (or taking turns reading separately) might be a great opportunity to do just that. The variety of characters and situations in the story can lead to some fun conversations (“Can you believe what happened to Edna’s eyebrows?”), but also open the door to deeper discussions about typical pre-teen issues such as how to know if a friend is a good friend or why parents might set up boundaries or how friends and family change as they age.
That said, Merci is not for everyone. The info on this book suggests its audience is intended for grades four to seven (generally 9-13 year olds). I would recommend this book for the upper end of that range. Although the “mean girl” drama is fairly innocent, it is the main source of conflict and there are mentions of boys and girls kissing under the bleachers and lots of interest in boys. The mystery surrounding Lolo and his forgetfulness is handled so beautifully but might need a conversation or two to unpack. You, as parents or guardians, are the best judge of when your reader is ready to handle these different types of content.
Bottom Line: Relatable heroine and page-turning middle school drama. Emphasis on the importance of family relationships, finding the right friends, and having confidence to handle change. Reading Merci Suarez Changes Gears is enrolling in middle school all over again. Not every kid is ready for it, so use discretion on what is right for your reader.
Another great review Lacey, thanks for sharing!