Merci Suárez Changes Gears facts for kids
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| Author | Meg Medina |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Candlewick Press |
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Publication date
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February 5, 2019 |
| Pages | 355 |
| Awards | Newbery Medal (2020) |
| ISBN | 978-0-06-269120-0 |
Merci Suárez Changes Gears is a 2018 children's book written by Meg Medina. Mercedes "Merci" Suárez, the eponymous heroine, is a sixth grade scholarship student at an elite private school in South Florida. The novel details her struggles at school and home. The novel was awarded the 2019 Newbery Medal.
Plot summary
Merci Suárez is a Cuban-American student starting the sixth grade (her second year) at Seaward Pines Academy, which she and her older brother Roli attend on scholarship. As part of her scholarship obligation, Merci mentors new student Michael Clark for the "Sunshine Buddies" program. Michael draws the interest of fellow student and mean girl Edna Santos, adding to the pressure on Merci at school. The Suárez family lives as an extended group in three neighboring houses: one for Merci, Roli, and their parents; another for Merci's tía Inéz, who runs a bakery while raising young twin sons Axel and Tomás; and the third for her abuela and abuelo, Lolo, who has always been in charge of walking the children home from school.
Merci Suarez never realized that 6th would be so hard–even with a scientific genius for a brother. That was before she met Edna Santos, started babysitting her 2 annoying cousin brothers, and becomes a Sunshine Buddy, and to top it all off, her grandfather (Lolo), her main supporter, has Alzheimer's disease, which has no known cure. Merci is also an amazing, budding soccer champion, who is so good, that she can “Play for za Feefa” says Simon (one of her dad’s football friends). She might even dare to try out for the school team–if only her mom would sign the permission form. There is only one thing that Merci has been wanting for the longest time; a new bike. To get it, she saves up money to buy it, but bikes are getting more expensive, and her family is not rich at all. All this, with her grandfather’s sickness, and mean Edna and her “swarm of cawing crows” is building the pressure on Merci Suarez. Will she survive the sixth grade?
