Merci Suarez Changes Gears

Merci Suarez navigates the challenges of sixth grade at a prestigious private school while dealing with family changes at home, including her grandfather's declining health due to Alzheimer's disease. The story follows this Cuban-American girl as she struggles to fit in with wealthy classmates while staying true to her working-class family values and cultural identity. Merci learns important lessons about friendship, family loyalty, and embracing her authentic self despite social pressures. The novel sensitively explores themes of economic inequality, cultural identity, family dynamics, and the impact of aging and illness on multi-generational families.