Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg MedinaThis sweet, coming-of-age story takes place in Southern Florida. Merci is a girl of Cuban descent who lives with her multi-generational family in a collection of three small homes called "Las Casitas." In the story, Merci and her older and smarter brother Roli have scholarships to attend a very exclusive private school near their home. Although Merci is in a much different place financially then her peers; she navigates her way through sixth grade with humor and grace.
Meanwhile, Merci is concerned that her grandfather Lolo doesn't seem to be himself as he begins to forget recent events and begins telling lies to Merci's grandmother to keep her from worrying about him. Lolo is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and the close knit family comes together to offer their support and love.
This charming story is a well deserved winner of the 2019 John Newbury Medal. It touches upon several of-the-moment issues including immigration, inclusion, diversity, and aging. Meg Medina has also written a wonderful picture book titled Mango, Abuela and Me that is worthy of many read-alouds. As a recommendation for older readers, it is not difficult to find many similarities between this story and The Hate U Give. by Angie Thomas. In both books, strong and supportive families encounter and learn to deal with tragic circumstances beyond their control.
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