Merci Suarez Changes Gears
Author: Meg Medina
Awards: Newbery
Grade: 5th-7th
Summary:
Merci Suarez is starting the Sixth grade and is different from the other students at her school because unlike them she is on scholarship. Merci hates being reminded by her family of this because they say she has to act more responsibly at school to show the school that she deserves to be there. Living with her family isn't always easy because her house is connected to her grandparents and her Tia's, whose kids Merci always has to babysit for and as a result can't try out for her soccer team. On top of that, she begins to realize that her grandpa, Lolo, has dementia and doesn't act the way he used to. To make matters worse, Merci is forced to be a Sunshine Buddy and she was assigned to the new kid, Michael. Being paired with a boy never happens and Edna doesn't like it. Through all the drama that comes out of Merci's life, she battles the reality that life isn't fair. At the end of the story, Merci is gifted a new bike which she loved; however, she realized that with everything going on if she could have one wish it wouldn't have been for the bike but for Lolo to get better. This understanding allows her to understand the importance of family despite being a part of a school where the other kids are more well off and have nicer things.
Evaluation:
I thought this book was okay but I read it with higher expectations and to be honest it was very slow for me. It did take me back to middle school drama which I think student's need to be able to see their viewpoints in and be able to relate to the same dramatic events that are going on in a main character's life. I also think that Merci being Latina and this book winning the Newbery is good for students to also see a character that is described to look like them too. I would recommend having this in the classroom library or making it a part of a book club in class, but I wouldn't read it as a read aloud to my students.
Awards: Newbery
Grade: 5th-7th
Summary:
Merci Suarez is starting the Sixth grade and is different from the other students at her school because unlike them she is on scholarship. Merci hates being reminded by her family of this because they say she has to act more responsibly at school to show the school that she deserves to be there. Living with her family isn't always easy because her house is connected to her grandparents and her Tia's, whose kids Merci always has to babysit for and as a result can't try out for her soccer team. On top of that, she begins to realize that her grandpa, Lolo, has dementia and doesn't act the way he used to. To make matters worse, Merci is forced to be a Sunshine Buddy and she was assigned to the new kid, Michael. Being paired with a boy never happens and Edna doesn't like it. Through all the drama that comes out of Merci's life, she battles the reality that life isn't fair. At the end of the story, Merci is gifted a new bike which she loved; however, she realized that with everything going on if she could have one wish it wouldn't have been for the bike but for Lolo to get better. This understanding allows her to understand the importance of family despite being a part of a school where the other kids are more well off and have nicer things.
Evaluation:
I thought this book was okay but I read it with higher expectations and to be honest it was very slow for me. It did take me back to middle school drama which I think student's need to be able to see their viewpoints in and be able to relate to the same dramatic events that are going on in a main character's life. I also think that Merci being Latina and this book winning the Newbery is good for students to also see a character that is described to look like them too. I would recommend having this in the classroom library or making it a part of a book club in class, but I wouldn't read it as a read aloud to my students.
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