"Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Media- Book Review


Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Media. Candlewick Press. 2018.

The beginning of sixth grade in Seaward Pines Academy brings big changes to the life of Mercedes Suarez. First, Merci is asked to join a new student mentorship program called the Welcome Buddies. She begrudgingly joins only to be assigned to be a buddy to a boy, Michael Clark, who moved from Minnesota to South Florida. Right away Merci’s friend group begin to tease her, including her popular and wealthy classmate Edna Santos. 

Things at Merci’s home in Las Casitas, a group of houses where most of Merci’s relatives live, are also changing. First, her older brother Roli, a genius in his own right, now has his driver’s license. Although he is not the best driver it is clear he is growing up and soon will be leaving Las Casitas to go to college. Then there is Lolo. Merci’s once enthusiastic and supportive bike-riding grandfather has begun to act like a whole other person. Lolo begins to forget things more and more every day, wanders off without letting anyone know, and falls from his bike on their way home. Even more strange Lolo fights and yells at his family refusing to attend an important event at Merci’s school. Although the Suarez family moto is to be honest and keep no secrets it becomes clear to Merci that the adults in her family are keeping the reasons for Lolo’s strange actions to themselves. 

Things in Seaward Pines Academy worsen as, to Merci’s surprise, the teasing from Edna and the other girls turns in to jealousy as Edna begins to develop a crush on Michael. Edna even becomes determine to make Merci feel like an outcast for being paired up with Michael even though Merci wants anything but to be his buddy. Merci feels even more like an outcast as she and Roli attend Seaward Pine Academy on a scholarship and can’t afford to take vacations, spend money on their school projects or movie nights. Although these are all things Merci wishes she could have what Merci wants more is to save enough money to buy a new bike and be a part of the school’s soccer team. However, Merci’s family obligations make both of these seem impossible. Nonetheless, Merci knows she has something no one can take away or put a price on, a wonderful, caring, and supportive family. 

Similar to Meg Media’s experience, I also grew up reading books that had no diversity. None of the books I read growing up had a Latino family. I could not relate to families in books. I really enjoyed reading Mercedes’ experience growing up because it is similar to how I grew up. Especially the description of Las Casitas as that is exactly the type of environment I grew up in as a child in Mexico. I am excited to add Media’s book to my classroom library. I know many of my third graders will enjoy, relate, and gain a lot from reading about Merci’s experiences including how she handled her hardships.


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