A review by roseleaf24
Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

5.0

Medina says in her author's note that she wanted to celebrate families that love intergenerationally. She does that so beautifully, and as we have grandma and children all under the same roof, I loved it. She notes its common nature in Latino families, but I believe is becoming more common across the board. This book is a valuable read, as it normalizes the range of emotions and tensions among all the members of a caregiving family. Medina also shows so realistically all the complications of middle school social life, without making our protagonist a hero. I loved Merci and her family, and the friends she develops, but especially her relationship with her older brother, Roli. This book is poignant, relevant, and relatable.