Merci Suarez Changes Gears

Merci Suarez Changes Gears
By Meg Medina
Candlewick Press, 2018. Fiction.

Merci Suarez was prepared for sixth grade to be a little bit different -- she knew that as a scholarship student at her fancy private school she would have to do extra community service hours, she knew that being one of the "big kids" would mean more schoolwork, and she even knew that she'd have to deal with the bossiest girl in her class -- but she wasn't ready for all the big changes that would come - especially when her grandfather and best friend starts acting strangely.

This is a realistic fiction book with a lot of heart. Merci Suarez is the type of character you want to root for, and while she faces many hardships, this book reads like it's a book about an ordinary girl (no easy feat to accomplish). This is a sophisticated coming-of-age story with a lot of heart and a little bit of humor sprinkled in. Middle-grade readers will love this book.

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