Merci Suárez Changes Gears

A relatable and heartwarming coming-of-age story that follows a complex young Latina navigating the challenges of sixth grade. Merci is a scholarship student at a private school who does extra community service to pay for her education. When her bossy classmate sets her sights on Merci's school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, she becomes the target of jealousy. Meanwhile, things aren't going well at home, as Merci's grandfather, Lolo, is acting strangely, and no one in her family will tell her what's going on. Winner of the 2019 Newbery Medal, this book by bestselling author Meg Medina explores the confusion and change that define middle school, and the steadfast connection of family.