Merci Suarez Changes Gears

Merci and her loving immigrant family live in Florida, where her family exchanges labour for her spot at an elite private school. Merci faces issues fitting in at school as a snobby girl and her clique bully Merci for her appearance and low income, and she also faces issues at home with her beloved grandfather’s mental decline. Through it all, Merci maintains her self-esteem, earns respect and friendship from classmates, and with her family bravely faces grandfather’s challenges. This award-winning novel for grades 4-7 is suitable for novel study, read-aloud, literature circle, and independent reading, and deals with bullying, fitting in, identity, self-esteem, and family and peer relationships.