Bound To Stay Bound

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 Merci Suarez changes gears (Merci Suarez)
 Author: Medina, Meg

 Publisher:  Candlewick Press (2018)

 Classification: Fiction
 Physical Description: 355 p.,  20 cm

 BTSB No: 635033 ISBN: 9780763690496
 Ages: 9-12 Grades: 4-7

 Subjects:
 Bildungsromans
 Interpersonal relations -- Fiction
 Family life -- Fiction
 School stories

Price: $22.58

Summary:
Thoughtful, strong-willed sixth-grader Merci Suarez navigates the difficult changes with friends, family, and classmates.

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Accelerated Reader Information:
   Interest Level: MG
   Reading Level: 4.60
   Points: 10.0   Quiz: 196915
Reading Counts Information:
   Interest Level: 3-5
   Reading Level: 4.30
   Points: 18.0   Quiz: 75639

Awards:
 Newbery Medal, 2019

Reviews:
   Kirkus Reviews (+) (07/15/18)
   School Library Journal (+) (07/01/18)
   Booklist (+) (06/01/18)
 The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/09/18)
 The Hornbook (+) (00/09/18)

Full Text Reviews:

Booklist - 06/01/2018 *Starred Review* Merci Suárez loves painting with her Papi, playing on his soccer team, telling her Abuelo Lolo about her days at school, and taking pictures of her family when they are together. But lately Lolo has been acting different—he wanders off, forgets things easily, and has even gotten angry. To add to Merci’s worries, sixth grade at Seaward Pines Academy has gotten off to a rocky start. To make up her school tuition, Merci has been assigned community service as a Sunshine Buddy to new student Michael Clark, and, as the weeks go by, popular Edna Santos only gets meaner as Merci and Michael become friends. Merci isn’t sure what to make of this new world where “maybe like” is not the same as “like like,” and where “popular” is not the same as having friends. As she navigates her way through the year, she discovers that, even though change is scary and even though it may mean things will never be the same, sometimes it is unavoidable. Medina’s breathtaking coming-of-age story features a strong, deeply honest protagonist whose insights will make readers laugh, as well as dynamic secondary characters who reveal glimmers of profound depth. Medina capably gets to the heart of middle-school experiences in this engrossing story of a kid growing into herself. A must-read. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 07/01/2018 Gr 4–7—Eleven-year-old Merci Suárez is starting sixth grade and everything is changing. Not only do upper graders have to switch teachers throughout the day, but playing sports, like Merci loves to do, is seen as babyish and befriending boys is taboo. So when Merci is assigned to show new kid Michael Clark around as part of her scholarship package at Seaward Pines Academy, it's a problem. Especially when the richest, smartest, most popular girl in school, Edna, who gets to write the sixth grade's social rules and break them, too, seems to like Michael. Meanwhile, at home, Merci has to watch over her little twin cousins who live close by at Las Casitas, a row of houses belonging to Mami and Papi; Abuela and Lolo; and Tia, for free, so trying out for the school's soccer team and earning money to buy her dream bike is almost impossible. What's worse, Merci can't even talk to her beloved Lolo about all her problems like she used to as he starts acting less and less like himself. The realistic portrayal of a complex young Latina's life is one many readers will relate to as she discovers that change can be hard, but it's the ride that matters. VERDICT Pura Belpré—winning author Medina cruises into readers' hearts with this luminous middle grade novel. A winning addition to any library's shelves.—Brittany Drehobl, Morton Grove Public Library, IL - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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