
Review Quotes Caught between the world of family and peers, the comfort of Las Casitas and the enticing new call of independence, Merci Suárez is a delightful heroine who, despite real challenges, never wavers in her strong sense of self or her fierce love for la familia. Winner of the 2019 Newbery Medal, this coming-of-age tale by New York Times best-selling author Meg Medina gets to the heart of the confusion and constant change that defines middle school - and the steadfast connection that defines family. And Merci is left to her own worries, because no one in her family will tell her what's going on.

Things aren't going well at home, either: Merci's grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately - forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci's school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna's jealousy. They don't have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. For starters, as strong and thoughtful as Merci is, she has never been completely like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. Medina cruises into readers' hearts." - School Library Journal (starred review) Merci Suárez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. No one in her family will tell Merci what's going on, so she's left to her own worries, while also feeling all on her own at school."-Publisher's description.īook Synopsis Winner of the Newbery MedalĪ New York Times Bestseller "The realistic portrayal of a complex young Latina's life is one many readers will relate to.

For starters, Merci has never been like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students.


About the Book "Merci Suâarez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different.
