kjw2's review against another edition
4.0
Merci Suarez is a delightfully fun chica. Getting to know her and her family is pure delight. Truly a joy to read.
nikireads100's review against another edition
5.0
Such a good coming of age story. The changes merci goes though are very real and fitting for any sixth grader!
klsriley's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
danggeun's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
kellyz628's review against another edition
5.0
Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
Note: My professional goal for this year is to read 50+ diverse books. As I attempt to read and review these books, I will be answering the following questions for each book:
Brief plot summary
Merci is a sixth grader in her second year at a private school. Merci and her brother are scholarship students and do not have as much money as the other students. Not only does she have challenges at school, her grandfather is also starting to act different at home. Merci is just a kid trying to figure out her place in the world.
How is the book diverse?
Merci’s family is Hispanic and live in an intergenerational family.
Opinion & reason for rating
I gave this book five stars. Merci’s point of view is both unique but also completely relatable to any sixth grade girl. It is an easy middle grade novel to read and the story flows well. The secondary characters are very involved in the story especially Merci’s grandfather who is getting forgetful and acting differently. Family is a strong theme throughout the book.
How does the book impact me as a person and as a teacher? Why does this book matter?
This book impacts me as a teacher because it helps to remind me that students come to school with home on their minds. Families are made up of many different types - Merci’s family just happens to be intergenerational. Some of my students may be able to connect with Merci in this way or in other ways like her love of soccer. She is a strong female protagonist who is very likeable and the reader is rooting for her to have a good sixth grade year. This book matters because so many protagonists are white and it is refreshing to read about a Hispanic family with a strong sense of culture and family. Every year only a small percentage of books that are published have a non-white protagonist. More students need to be able to see themselves in books so they can fall more deeply in love with books.
I would recommend this book to...
Sixth graders who are just starting middle school and can connect to Merci’s story. I will be recommending this book to my students!
Note: My professional goal for this year is to read 50+ diverse books. As I attempt to read and review these books, I will be answering the following questions for each book:
Brief plot summary
Merci is a sixth grader in her second year at a private school. Merci and her brother are scholarship students and do not have as much money as the other students. Not only does she have challenges at school, her grandfather is also starting to act different at home. Merci is just a kid trying to figure out her place in the world.
How is the book diverse?
Merci’s family is Hispanic and live in an intergenerational family.
Opinion & reason for rating
I gave this book five stars. Merci’s point of view is both unique but also completely relatable to any sixth grade girl. It is an easy middle grade novel to read and the story flows well. The secondary characters are very involved in the story especially Merci’s grandfather who is getting forgetful and acting differently. Family is a strong theme throughout the book.
How does the book impact me as a person and as a teacher? Why does this book matter?
This book impacts me as a teacher because it helps to remind me that students come to school with home on their minds. Families are made up of many different types - Merci’s family just happens to be intergenerational. Some of my students may be able to connect with Merci in this way or in other ways like her love of soccer. She is a strong female protagonist who is very likeable and the reader is rooting for her to have a good sixth grade year. This book matters because so many protagonists are white and it is refreshing to read about a Hispanic family with a strong sense of culture and family. Every year only a small percentage of books that are published have a non-white protagonist. More students need to be able to see themselves in books so they can fall more deeply in love with books.
I would recommend this book to...
Sixth graders who are just starting middle school and can connect to Merci’s story. I will be recommending this book to my students!
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
5.0
So much love for this book. I think a lot of middle grade readers will want to be friends with Merci.
thebrunettebookjunkie's review against another edition
5.0
I've been reading this book with my kids for the last several months and it's such a great story. Medina does a great job of dealing with changes that older children/young teens face in school and in their relationships with others. It also gave my kids a look into other cultures. My own grandmother has Alzheimer's and unfortunately my kids experienced first hand the ugliness that can come with that disease. The care in which Medina shows Alzheimers and its affect not only on the patient but their families and caregivers was beautiful. I broke down reading to my kids a few times and saw the empathy reflected on their faces with Merci and her relationship with her grandfather. We lost my grandfather last year so all in all we all three resonated immensely with Merci Suarez Changes Gears.