100 pages • 3 hours read
Meg MedinaMerci Suárez Changes Gears
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina follows eleven-year-old Merci Suárez, a Cuban American girl in Florida, as she navigates her first year at Seaward Pines Academy. Balancing academics, sports aspirations, and family responsibilities, she struggles with fitting in at school and dealing with her grandfather's declining health due to Alzheimer's. Through these challenges, Merci learns the importance of family, resilience, and adapting to change.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Meg Medina’s Merci Suárez Changes Gears paints a vivid portrait of a sixth-grader navigating middle school complexities and familial challenges. Critics commend its authentic portrayal of cultural identity, family dynamics, and adolescence, though some feel its pacing lags at times. Overall, it’s lauded for its heartfelt and relatable storytelling, making it a compelling read for young audiences.
Who Should Read Merci Suárez Changes Gears?
A reader who would enjoy Meg Medina's Merci Suárez Changes Gears likely appreciates heartwarming, realistic middle-grade fiction, rich in cultural diversity and family dynamics. Fans of R.J. Palacio's Wonder or Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming will find this book's themes of growing up and navigating life's changes equally compelling.
RecommendedReading Age
9-12yearsLexile Level
700L