Merci Suárez Changes Gears is a 2018 children's book (based on a short story from Flying Lessons and Other Stories) written by Meg Medina. Mercedes "Merci" Suárez, the eponymous heroine, is a sixth grade scholarship student at an elite private school in South Florida. The novel details her struggles at school and home. The novel was awarded the 2019 Newbery Medal.
Merci Suárez is a Cuban-American student starting the sixth grade (her second year) at Seaward Pines Academy, which she and her older brother Roli attend on scholarship. Merci mentors new student Michael Clark for the "Sunshine Buddies" program as part of her scholarship obligation. Michael draws the interest of fellow student and mean girl Edna Santos, adding to the pressure on Merci at school. The Suárez family lives as an extended group in three neighboring houses: one for Merci, Roli, and their parents; another for Merci's tía Inéz, who runs a bakery while raising young twin sons Axel and Tomás; and the third for her Abuela and Abuelo, Lolo, who has always been in charge of walking the children home from school.
Merci Suarez never realized that 6th grade would be so hard–even with a scientific genius for a brother. That was before she met Edna Santos, started babysitting her cousins, became a Sunshine Buddy, and to top it all off, her grandfather (Lolo), her main supporter, has Alzheimer's disease. Merci is also an amazing, budding soccer champion, who is so good, that she can “Play for za Feefa” says Simon (one of her dad’s football friends). She might even dare to try out for the school team–if only her mom would sign the permission form. There is only one thing that Merci has wanted for the longest time; a new bike. To get it, she saves up money to buy it, but bikes are getting more expensive, and her family is not rich at all. All this, with her grandfather’s sickness, and mean Edna and her “swarm of cawing crows” is building the pressure on Merci Suarez. Will she survive the sixth grade?
Developmentedit
Medina drew on her own experience growing up near her extended family as well as the history of her mother's cousins, who lived in three neighboring houses in Florida.[1] Medina's experience in caring for her elderly mother, mother-in-law, and aunt also contributed to the realistic portrayal of aging in the novel.[1]
merci, suárez, changes, gears, 2018, children, book, based, short, story, from, flying, lessons, other, stories, written, medina, mercedes, merci, suárez, eponymous, heroine, sixth, grade, scholarship, student, elite, private, school, south, florida, novel, de. Merci Suarez Changes Gears is a 2018 children s book based on a short story from Flying Lessons and Other Stories written by Meg Medina Mercedes Merci Suarez the eponymous heroine is a sixth grade scholarship student at an elite private school in South Florida The novel details her struggles at school and home The novel was awarded the 2019 Newbery Medal Merci Suarez Changes GearsAuthorMeg MedinaCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenrechildren s literaturePublisherCandlewick PressPublication dateFebruary 5 2019Pages355AwardsNewbery Medal 2019 ISBN978 0 06 269120 0 Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Development 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksPlot summary editMerci Suarez is a Cuban American student starting the sixth grade her second year at Seaward Pines Academy which she and her older brother Roli attend on scholarship Merci mentors new student Michael Clark for the Sunshine Buddies program as part of her scholarship obligation Michael draws the interest of fellow student and mean girl Edna Santos adding to the pressure on Merci at school The Suarez family lives as an extended group in three neighboring houses one for Merci Roli and their parents another for Merci s tia Inez who runs a bakery while raising young twin sons Axel and Tomas and the third for her Abuela and Abuelo Lolo who has always been in charge of walking the children home from school Merci Suarez never realized that 6th grade would be so hard even with a scientific genius for a brother That was before she met Edna Santos started babysitting her cousins became a Sunshine Buddy and to top it all off her grandfather Lolo her main supporter has Alzheimer s disease Merci is also an amazing budding soccer champion who is so good that she can Play for za Feefa says Simon one of her dad s football friends She might even dare to try out for the school team if only her mom would sign the permission form There is only one thing that Merci has wanted for the longest time a new bike To get it she saves up money to buy it but bikes are getting more expensive and her family is not rich at all All this with her grandfather s sickness and mean Edna and her swarm of cawing crows is building the pressure on Merci Suarez Will she survive the sixth grade Development editMedina drew on her own experience growing up near her extended family as well as the history of her mother s cousins who lived in three neighboring houses in Florida 1 Medina s experience in caring for her elderly mother mother in law and aunt also contributed to the realistic portrayal of aging in the novel 1 Reception editThe novel received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews 2 The Horn Book 3 Publishers Weekly 4 and School Library Journal 5 At its annual meeting in January 2019 the American Library Association awarded the Newbery Medal to Merci Suarez Changes Gears 6 References edit a b Meg Medina 2018 Merci Suarez Changes Gears review and interview Shelf Awareness Interview Interviewed by Sian Gaetano Retrieved 15 February 2019 Merci Suarez Changes Gears starred review Kirkus Reviews June 25 2018 Retrieved 15 February 2019 Lugo Sujei September 1 2018 Review of Merci Suarez Changes Gears The Horn Book Retrieved 15 February 2019 Merci Suarez Changes Gears starred review Publishers Weekly 2018 Retrieved 15 February 2019 Drehobl Brittany July 1 2018 Merci Suarez Changes Gears starred review School Library Journal Retrieved 15 February 2019 subscription required 2019 Youth Media Award Winners American Libraries Magazine Retrieved 2019 01 29 External links edit Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Pura Belpre winning author Meg Medina Press release Candlewick Press 2018 Retrieved 15 February 2019 nbsp Children s literature portal Awards Preceded byHello Universe Newbery Medal recipient2019 Succeeded byNew Kid Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merci Suarez Changes Gears amp oldid 1198857109, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
