Merci Suárez Changes Gears Read Alikes

In January of 2019 Meg Medina won the Newbery Medal for her novel Merci Suárez Changes Gears. It is a great book with loveable Merci who is trying to navigate life: school, her family, and her bicycle. Many readers have loved this book—with good reason. If you are one of those readers who are looking for good books similar to Merci Suárez, here are some other great books for you to try. Enjoy! 

Cuba in My Pocket 

By Adrianna Cuevas 

Farrar, Straus, Giroux for Young Readers, 2021. Fiction. 275 p. 

This is a historical fiction about 12-year-old Cumba who is sent to Maiami from Cuba when life is getting a little sticky with Fidel Castro’s new government. Cumba has to live with a new family in the United States and figure out life and school in a new environment. Cumba is also one of those characters who readers will root for even after the book ends. If you want a good story with a lot of heart, this is your next book to read. 

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance 

By Lisa Yee 

Random House Children’s Books, 2022. Fiction. 276 p. 

Maizy Chen and her mom have taken a summer trip to Last Chance, Minnesota to visit Maizy’s estranged grandparents. Maizy’s grandpa is sick, so even though Maizy sometimes wishes she were at home in California, she also is glad to be spending time with her family. With some signs of discrimination around and some family history to learn about, Maizy has her hands full trying to connect her past to her present. Readers who love seeing family relationships blossom as well as a spunky tween who is not willing to let a grandpa’s old grudge keep him from a friend (or a hot dog) will devour this great book. 

Omar Rising 

By Aisha Saeed 

Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2022. Fiction. 216 p. 

This book opens with Omar just about to head off to an elite boarding school on a scholarship. However, Omar soon realizes that the requirements of all the scholarship students are far more unreasonable than the requirements for all the other students at the school—which is hard for Omar who comes from a small Pakistani village and hasn’t ever had to write a proper essay. Kids who love underdogs (or soccer—Omar’s favorite sport) will root for Omar and his fellow scholarship friends. 

Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene 

By Emma Otheguy 

Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. Fiction. 281 p. 

Sofía Acosta is the middle child of two ballet prodigies. Also, her older sister and younger brother are starting to follow in their parent’s ballet footsteps. Sofía tries her best, but she would rather spend time daydreaming about what lace to put on the costumes than practice the march step for Nutcracker’s party scene. This story is all about trying to find your own place to fit in, even when it seems like everyone else in your family stands out. Readers who love drama, dancing, and a strong sense of family (both regular family and the family of a dance troop), will race through Sofía’s story. 

The Turtle of Michigan 

By Naomi Shihab Nye 

Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2022. Fiction. 325 p. 

Aref is excited to move to Michigan with his parents who are going to school in Ann Arbor for the next three years—although he does miss his grandpa (Sidi) who is still in Oman. Aref goes to school, makes friends, sees snow for the first time, and enjoys watching the many different species of turtles (his favorite animal) in his new home. Readers who want to read about a kid that everyone would want for a best friend and who has a strong sense of wonder and appreciation will love reading this gentle story.