Merci Suárez Can't Dance

Merci Suárez #2

by Meg Medina

In Meg Medina's follow-up to her Newbery Medal-winning novel, Merci takes on seventh grade, with all its travails of friendship, family, love--and finding your rhythm.

Seventh grade is going to be a real trial for Merci Suárez. For science she's got no-nonsense Mr. Ellis, who expects her to be a smart as her brother, Roli. She's been assigned to co-manage the tiny school store with Wilson Bellevue, a boy she barely knows, but whom she might actually like. And she's tangling again with classmate Edna Santos, who is bossier and more obnoxious than ever now that she is in charge of the annual Heart Ball.

One thing is for sure, though: Merci Suárez can't dance--not at the Heart Ball or anywhere else. Dancing makes her almost as queasy as love does, especially now that Tía Inés, her merengue-teaching aunt, has a new man in her life. Unfortunately, Merci can't seem to avoid love or dance for very long. She used to talk about everything with her grandfather, Lolo, but with his Alzheimer's getting worse each day, whom can she trust to help her make sense of all the new things happening in her life? The Suárez family is back in a touching, funny story about growing up and discovering love's many forms, including how we learn to love and believe in ourselves.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Family, Fiction, Friendship, Contemporary, Latinx

384 pages, Hardcover

First published April 6, 2021

About the author

Meg Medina served as the 2023-2024 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. She is the author of the Newbery Medal–winning book Merci Suárez Changes Gears, which was also a 2018 Kirkus Prize finalist, and which was followed by two more acclaimed books about the Suárez family: Merci Suárez Can’t Dance and Merci Suárez Plays It Cool. Her young adult novels include Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, which won the 2014 Pura Belpré Author Award, and which was published in 2023 as a graphic novel illustrated by Mel Valentine Vargas; Burn Baby Burn, which was long-listed for the National Book Award; and The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind. She is also the author of picture books No More Señora Mimí / No más Señora Mimí, Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away / Evelyn del Rey se muda, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez, Jumpstart’s 2020 Read for the Record selection; Mango, Abuela, and Me, illustrated by Angela Dominguez, which was a Pura Belpré Author Award Honor Book; and Tía Isa Wants a Car, illustrated by Claudio Muñoz, which won the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award; and biographies for young readers She Persisted: Sonia Sotomayor and She Persisted: Pura Belpré, the latter with Marilisa Jiménez García.

The daughter of Cuban immigrants, she grew up in Queens, New York, and now lives in Richmond, Virginia.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
Genre ~ middle grade
Series ~ Merci Suárez #2
Others in the series ~ Merci Suárez Changes Gears
Setting ~ Florida
Publication date ~ April 6, 2021
Page Count ~ 372 (49 chapters)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 2 minutes
Narrator ~ Frankie Corzo
POV ~ single 1st

Merci is back and now in 7th grade. Middle school is a lovely time for a young lady with mean kids, puberty and crushes.

She and Wilson are working in the school store together and they develop a friendship. She wonders why she starts getting butterflies in her stomach when he's around because ewww gross.

Merci makes a mistake and tries to fix it on her own, which I can appreciate, but sometimes it's best to get an adult involved for the best resolution, even if you might get grounded.

In the last book we learned that Lola has Alzheimer's and that has progressed, which is really sad to see, but realistically written.

I love how Merci is so close with her Tia Inés. When Inés decides to follow her dream of opening a dance studio the whole Suárez family, plus a few of Merci's friends, pitch in to make it happen.

Overall, this is a cute little series. I'm ready to see what's up next in ~ Merci Suárez Plays It Cool.

Series notes:
I am reading this series because I accidentally agreed to read book 3 before I knew it was a series, so here I am. I do think it's best to go in order with them.

Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.

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[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good dance party. Can it be true that Merci Suárez can't dance? One might think so as she takes the opportunity to be the photographer for the Heart Ball rather than participate with the rest of the middle school. Maybe Merci just doesn't realize how much fun dancing can be? Tía Inés has been working so hard at the bakery, but her favorite job is teaching dance classes at the after school program. What will she do when the church where the program is housed is sold and her classes cancelled? All of these things take place in the context of Suárez family life. All our favorite family members are back although Roli is more of a bit player since he is away at college. Lolo's illness progresses and the memories of what once was are often bittersweet. There are new faces like Wilson Bellevue as well as characters we get to know better like Mr. Ellis and Miss McDaniels. As Merci realizes, people are complicated. They are much more than one thing. Perhaps it will not always be so hard to be nice to Emma Santos. Although this is a sequel to 'Merci Suárez Changes Gears,' it can stand alone. I would heartily recommend reading both books, though. It is a pleasure to spend time with Merci and her family.

Thank you to Candlewick and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read about Merci and her family. I thought this book got off to a very slow start but the last 200 pages were very very good. Merci has a very good relationship with her family and also the administration at her school. It seems like she’s always in the office for something. I especially like Wilson who was Merci’s‘s partner running the school store.

[Adriana Martinez Figueroa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
—
Me: there’s no way meg medina will make me cry over merci suárez AGAIN
Me about 60% into the book: *crying* GDI MEG

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.25 stars ✰

​ “Everything vanishes eventual​ly. Civilizations, species, people.

That doesn’t mean they don’t have value​ while they exist.

People will enjoy this work while it’s here. Live in the​ moment. That’s the whole point.”​

​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Seventh Grade may be here for Merci Suárez, but she is just not ready for seventh grade and all the changes that it brings with it. From friends acting out of character, to gross sentiments for boys she wishes to ignore, to her family even acting out of sorts, and her enemies showing kindness! Whatever could the world be coming to! 😅​ The woes of school​ & the pressure of the upcoming Heart Ball versus the challenges ​on the family front are more than enough on her plate without her unknown feelings making their presence known in her heart. 😢​ But, with a little guidance from her friends, with a little patience and trust from her family, maybe just maybe Merci Suarez Can't Dance might surprise everyone and even herself.​

​“Anyway, now I’m finding out that “one day” doesn’t arrive all at once. It creeps up on you a little bit at a time, like a skilled assassin.”​

​​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Its just a nostalgic trip; it's seventh grade. Emotions are on the fritz, boy crushes are on the high, and questionable motives of pseudo-frenemies are palpable. It's my pubescent years that I can happily return to; not so much miss it, but interested to see how Merci will either adapt or combust. Why not both? No, I'm kidding. She does mature; she does err - she does survive. 'Some tasks require us to put aside our past personal differences, Merci.' 😔 That's a young adult for you. Her mistakes are believable, and so too are her efforts to right the wrong, too. It's a rough balance of lying to others and lying to yourself that you don't care about being excluded, or that you wish your friend cared for you more, or why do I suddenly feel conscious about holding hands with a boy who is just my friend! Ah, the agony! 🥰

​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It makes me laugh, but it also warms my heart at how relatable and convincingly it is captured that you can't help but see how well it is written in resonating with kids who are definitely feeling the vibes strong at this age for whomever their heart reaches out to. 'I mean, if you want someone to like you, shouldn’t you act nice? But no.' The friendships and the rivalries - the prejudice and the peer pressure - it was once again portrayed in a way that it could be anyone's story; a middle grade read that boosts our morale and strengthens even Merci's own resolve in herself. 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ I liked how her school affairs and classroom antics played a part in her personal growth. How even her demands of community service taught her the importance of certain values in life, and also built character in her own resolve. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

​“It’s like getting paper cuts all the time, miss. They don’t look like much, but they hurt, especially if you get a lot of them, day after day.”​

​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ There is still that heartbreaking reminder that Lolo, her grandfather's health has not improved since last year; how the memories are all she has to savor the time that she has with him. But, her family's unity in sticking together as a team, trying to always provide the best for their family and kids is their strength - their motivation in life. 'I’m sick of being responsible, I want to yell at her. Sometimes it’s too hard.' 😟 Her frustrations for her own needs still very much exists, but she's also learning that she's not the only one. It's a begrudging acceptance, but one that she slowly finds in herself that others are deserving of happiness too; even if it is at the expense of her own time and freedom, family matters. 🫂

​​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I ​did find​ that Merci was a little harsher and a bit rougher with her meanness here; one where she did not quite feel apologetic for her actions, let alone fully understand the extent of Edna's ​rivalry or jealousy. She also behaved in an impractical manner at times, but I do get why she was acting out of sorts. How her confused feelings about the changes of boy-girl dynamics or the mushy emotions she couldn't accept, or even the lack of having someone to talk to about them makes its presence known - 'any imperfection can be used against you.'. 🥺 But, seeing how she overcame her own self-imposed resentment and bitterness was cathartic. How she realized that it is okay to hold hands with a boy and not make a big deal out of it. How she felt proud of her own growth and her looks to see that she was more than just the boring, normal Merci. She knew who she was and that's what counts. 😤

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is lovely to meet Merci Suárez again, this time in seventh grade, the family, the friends, and listening to Merci's worries figuring out, well, life. I taught this age for many years and while I didn't know "all" their thoughts, I knew some. Merci's voice (from Meg Medina) shows early adolescent worries with sympathy and I imagine will connect beautifully with same-age readers. I love the ups and downs with this family who live in three connected houses they call Las Casitas, Merci's home with her parents, that of her Tia Inés with twin boys, and her grandparent's home, with her Abuela and Lolo, her grandfather who she discovered has Alzenheimers in the last book. Layers of love and the puzzlement of how that all works from Merci fill the book with surprises and a most important part to me, that no one is perfect, often people make mistakes. They just have to decide what they'll do next. There is much for readers to love about Meg Medina's story, and about Merci.

Thanks to Candlewick Press for this advanced copy!

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you have read MERCI SUÁREZ CHANGES GEARS or not, joining Merci again, now in 7th grade, is an absolute delight. While this book is a sequel it is perfectly wonderful as a standalone as well - it’s been quite awhile since I read the first book and don’t have full recall of events within, but I fully enjoyed this one. Medina brings out the agony of being a middle schooler with such exquisite detail that I was squirming while reading being so viscerally brought back to that place. The family situations are also achingly poignant. I appreciate how Medina weaves in a storyline about micro aggressions and their very real damage. All in all, a splendid middle grade story. Highly recommend for grades 4-7.

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

I love a good dance party. Can it be true that Merci Suárez can't dance? One might think so as she takes the opportunity to be the photographer for the Heart Ball rather than participate with the rest of the middle school. Maybe Merci just doesn't realize how much fun dancing can be? Tía Inés has been working so hard at the bakery, but her favorite job is teaching dance classes at the after school program. What will she do when the church where the program is housed is sold and her classes cancelled? All of these things take place in the context of Suárez family life. All our favorite family members are back although Roli is more of a bit player since he is away at college. Lolo's illness progresses and the memories of what once was are often bittersweet. There are new faces like Wilson Bellevue as well as characters we get to know better like Mr. Ellis and Miss McDaniels. As Merci realizes, people are complicated. They are much more than one thing. Perhaps it will not always be so hard to be nice to Emma Santos. Although this is a sequel to 'Merci Suárez Changes Gears,' it can stand alone. I would heartily recommend reading both books, though. It is a pleasure to spend time with Merci and her family. * Review by Darla from Red Bridge *

[Tamara York · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I am so glad that this series has three books in it, one for each of the middle school years. In this installment, Merci is in 7th grade, navigating a school dance, a rocky truce with her nemesis, family dynamics, and correcting an error in judgement. I stalled out a bit about 1/3 of the way in, but I’m glad I stuck with it because this book has some really special moments and insight in the last half. This is realistic fiction middle grade at its best. I’m excited to read the third book soon.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the first Merci book was fine, well written, ok, characterizations. I could recall the tenderness between Merci and her Lolo and some nice specifics about her dad’s painting business, but that was about it. This Merci was an altogether more dynamic kid, who lived and breathed. Her friends Wilson, Hanna, Edna were each distinct, the rhythms of their friendships clear, specific and utterly believable for seventh graders. I am now officially in love with Merci and know I will walk around for a couple days missing being immersed in her life, hearing her prickly commentary and her smart and wry observations.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Medina writes relationships so well. Merci is such a wonderful character to have in the MG literary canon too. Her voice is so authentic, and the problems that she faces are realistic and yet tackled through a distinctly MG point of view. She is does such ridiculous stuff sometimes, but it's stuff every single middle schooler or anyone who remembers what it's like to be a middle schooler can relate too. I actually loved this even more than Merci Suárez Changes Gears. I liked the friendship dynamics of this one even more as well as the family interactions. I think this reads well on its own too. Student who picked this volume up first won't be lost if they haven't read the first book. I sincerely hope we get more of Merci's life and stories because she is just so great.

[Mariangel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the Merci Suárez series took me longer to get into than the first, but it is still an enjoyable middle school book as Merci’s friendships develop.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved returning to the world of Merci Suarez and her big family and circle of friends. I'm so happy that Meg Medina decided that we needed a follow-up to Merci Suárez Changes Gears, because I sure needed it. Now that we've had books for Merci in 6th and 7th grade, is it too much to hope for a third book for 8th grade Merci?

It's the beginning of 7th grade for Merci and her friends at Seaward Pines Academy. Lots of changes. New teachers, new responsibilities, new and old friends, some changing relationships and jealously, and a possible first and awkward crush. She can't decide if he just complimented her, or compared her to a rodent. At home her family is just as loving and supportive as ever, but there are more responsibilities for her to take on. Lolo's Alzheimer's seems to be getting worse and he needs to be watched and kept safe, Tia Ines works way too much and needs Merci to keep the twins out of trouble when she's not there, which is a fulltime job, as they just as wild as ever, maybe even wilder.

At school Merci is very excited and sure that Miss Mcdaniels will give her the anchor spot on the morning announcements with her best friend Lena. Instead she has to work the Ram Depot with new student Wilson, selling school supplies during lunch. Not exactly what she wished for. And to top it off her nemesis Edna is always up in her business and has them selling tickets to the Valentine's Day Heart Ball and needs them to come up with some snappy slogans to make students want to buy them. Merci's doesn't dance, will not go to the dance, and just the thought of dancing in front of people makes her queasy. For her going to the dance would be "like smearing cod liver oil all over my favorite candy bar. I can't get past it". Her ad slogans reflect these feelings. My favorite was “Buy a Heart Ball ticket if you have absolutely nothing better to do in this sad life”. So much humor and vulnerability both right there. Merci's heart and bravery always shine through in these pages. As she says, "I'm team Suarez, and we don't back down".

I loved the diversity of the cast was in this sequel. Merci and her family are Cuban American, best friends Lena is Filipino and Hannah Korean, Edna is Dominican, and differently abled, ankle brace wearing, new student and maybe crush Wilson, is Louisiana Creole and Cajun.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun addition to Merci's story! I really enjoyed it!

It was a little slow to get into but soon I was totally invested in the latest Merci story.

Merci is so relatable and such an authentic middle school voice. I felt like the way she thinks, talks, and acts were so relatable to a late middle grade audience. From her thoughts on boys, to telling the truth to navigating changes in friendships, Merci is so real!

Meg Medina tells such a great story. She really has a knack for details that bring people together. This story isn't overly exciting or far fetched. It's about an average middle schooler navigating life, learning how to interact with enemies, how to admit to doing something wrong, how to support family in all the changes of life, how to be a good friend. Merci's story is told with heart and love without preaching too much about big issues. I love her story!

There is a cast of great characters surrounding Merci. Loved seeing her interact with Wilson and their friendship in those awkward middle school years. Also loved the changing dynamics with friends Lena and Hannah. It's a real issue to figure out how to be friends with people as your interests change and even when you hurt each other. That felt very real to me. Also loved Merci's relationships with her family especially her Tia in this one. Great to see Tia Ines find success with her dance studio and how the family all comes together to support her. I love Lolo so much and It's hard to see him changing as his Alzheimer's continues to progress. I felt seen with my own experiences with an aging grandparent as Merci tries to find new ways to connect with him when his old self is gone.

Great discussion of important ideas like telling the truth and accepting consequences. what is a good friend and how do you make amends when you are not a good friend? are enemies just bad people or can you understand them better? family supports family but that doesn't mean you always agree with them or it's always easy especially when things change. Loved these life lessons!

Just found out that Merci #3 is coming out this fall! Can't wait for more of her story!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my “read while the kids are reading” book this weekend. I do have to pause to scan the check ins and the check outs so that does slow me down but I probably get in at least 10 minutes per class!

I loved this. Merci has moved on to 7th grade and there was a lot of fun stuff in this one.

I particularly loved the introduction of the science teacher Mr Ellis. They make toothpaste in his class!! (Also he sounds hot. Why isn’t he a) real, b) single, and c) teaching at my school?)

[Renn]

Wow, I loved Merci Suárez Changes Gears, I can’t believe I didn’t know about this!

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute. I didn't think i needed/wanted a sequel, but happy to see the family again. And the older brother (Roli) is away at UNCCH!

[Flannery · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are cute middle school novels full of true middle school feelings.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 in Merci Suarez series. Appropriate for middle grade to junior high level. Still entertaining to teens and adults. Merci is a sensitive latino character troubled by typical junior high issues and traumas.

[Jennifer Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's always a worry whether a second book will live up to the first, especially when the first one was so well-received and engaging. Merci Suárez Can't Dance does not disappoint. It's as if you have simply turned the last page of the first book and her story continues (albeit a year later) with the same multidimensional characters and keeping-it-real storyline. What I love the most is that young readers will connect and see themselves in the situations and characters. Merci and the other characters aren't one-dimensional, just like in real life. Merci makes mistakes and compounds them with less than helpful reactions, just like real middle schoolers. As Merci says, "Why are people so complicated? Bad guys should always just be bad guys, and good guys should always be good guys." Meg Medina creates these beautifully complicated, complex characters. She nails the emotional rollercoaster that pre-teens go through, including budding relationships, frenemies, and family. In the end, Merci shines by discovering truths about her whole self and the importance of standing up for herself and friends.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. A fantastic follow-up to Merci Suarez Changes Gears. While this could probably be enjoyed as a standalone, if you have access to the first book I’d recommend reading both to truly appreciate the gradual progression of Merci growing up.

Whether Merci’s experiencing anxiety over her family life (her grandpa slipping further into dementia, her aunt falling for someone) or her sweet awkwardness when she watches a movie with Wilson (for readers who aren’t into romance there’s only a small hint of it here) or when she’s scrambling to cover up for an expensive mishap at school, I just loved how honest, relatable, and palpable her emotions feel.

I also love the large role family plays in these books, the first one featured Merci’s bond with her grandfather and in this one it was such a pleasure to get more of a deep dive into her relationship with her aunt who on the surface is different from Merci but they connect on a heartwarming level.

It’s my hope that this isn’t the last of the Merci books, I’d like to keep checking in with her as she gets older. I’m so enjoying the realistic pace in which Merci, her family and her relationships change and I’m especially eager to see her frenemy situation with Edna continue to evolve.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been reading so many heavy novels and memoirs that I needed some YA joy, and this surely brought some. This is the second book in the Merci trilogy, and I like them because they have such a loving family base from which to launch a middle school kid into the big, exciting and something scary world.

I felt like some of the subplots (Edna, Jason) were not fully resolved, and overall, I was a little less invested in the central tension. But the family dynamics are so lovely, and I enjoy getting to know these characters more.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merci was first introduced in the 2019 Newbery award-winning book “Merci Suárez changes gears.” Now in seventh grade, Merci is back with new adventures and heartaches. Merci's struggles, hopes, dreams and failures all ring true of middle school, making her very relatable to her young readers. To read the full review on this great book, go to my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Meg GlitteryOtters · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the science teacher asks Merci’s lab group, “What do you scientists predict would really happen in this catastrophic scenario (earthquake)?” Lena answers, “Everyone would be really upset. The ground under their feet would be moving in a way they hadn’t expected. Everything they thought was safe forever would be crumbling. They wouldn’t know how to make it better or what to do next. They’d want things like they were before.” (258) Lena is actually describing a real-life catastrophic scenario—the break in friendship between best friends Hannah and Merci, but she may as well be describing Mercedes Suarez’s entire seventh grade year.

I knew when I first met Merci Suarez in Meg Medina’s short story “Sol Painting” in the anthology Flying Lessons, that I would want to learn more about this young girl who was entering the confusing world of adolescence. I was thrilled when her story was expanded into a novel, Merci Suarez Changes Gears, in which she navigates sixth grade as a scholarship student at the private Seaward Academy and copes with the fact that her beloved grandfather has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Now in seventh grade Merci is still challenged by middle school drama, shifting friendships, and the unkind comments of other students, supported by her two best friends Lena and Hannah and her very close, extended family, but things have changed. “…really the world is just spinning. I’m sick with all the trouble I’m in and sick with all the things that are different this year, too.… Nobody is the way they’re supposed to be.” (188-9)

Merci’s brother has left for college, her aunt is dating, Hannah is hanging out with her enemy Edna, and Edna stands up for Merci against the school bully. No one is who she thinks they are. Preparing a science project, Merci reflects, “A geode sort of reminds me what Lolo used to say about people. That we all hold surprises.” (154) And later, she wonders, “Why are people so complicated? Bad guys should always be just bad guys, and good guys should always be good guys. That way you’d be able to like them or hate them all the way through.” (332)

On top of all this, her grandfather’s condition is worsening. “Lolo barely moves. He’s fading like one of those colorful street paintings Mr. Cahill works on. ‘Everything vanishes,’ h[Mr. Cahill] told us at the festival. ‘Live in the moment. That’s the whole point.’ I swallow hard just thinking about the fact that it’s true about people too. They vanish, sometimes a little at a time.” (314)

Merci also begins thinking about boys and kissing and new ethical issues; when an incident happens at the school dance, she can’t decide whether to own up or try to fix the problem. “Mami says feelings are tricky because sometimes they get disguised.” (92)

But through all of this, she does make a difference in her school. Explaining the persistent microaggressions by Jason and the other kids at her private school to Miss McDaniels, “It’s like getting paper cuts all the time, miss. They don’t look like much, but they hurt, especially if you get a lot of them, day after day.” (337-8) Maybe Merci Suarez can’t dance but maybe she can use dancing to make a difference.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Newberry Award winning book MERCI SUAREZ CHANGES GEARS, so when I was offered the opportunity to read the second book about Merci, I jumped at the chance. It was so much fun to be able to read more about Merci’s story, her loving family and supportive friends as she begins the mystifying year of seventh grade, when everything is changing. “Lolo (her beloved grandfather and confidant who is “fading away like a street painting” due to Altzheimer’s) and I don’t talk about anything anymore. Tia (her aunt who always used to have time to spend with Merci, take her shopping and answer her questions) is dating Simon (her dad’s employee and Merci’s favorite soccer buddy) and now this stupid earring on my brother who does not wear earrings. Nobody is the way they're supposed to be.” And then there’s school… What is that feeling she’s suddenly aware of whenever she’s around Wilson, her co-manager of the school store, and just why does her school need to have a Valentine’s dance when she knows she can’t dance??

Merci may feel lost with all of the changes in seventh grade, but I loved the support she received from her parents, her aunt, her favorite teacher, even Miss McDaniels, the assistant principal at her private school, Seaward Pines Academy and her friends. They were all there for her as she struggled to find her way and made some questionable choices.

I loved witnessing Merci’s growth as she began to understand and accept some of the changes in her world and in herself. She is reminded of what Lolo used to say about people, “they are always full of surprises”, and realizes perhaps she should give the people in her world a chance; adults and kids alike.

Meg Medina perfectly describes both the angst and the joys of seventh grade within an extended loving family, school family and neighborhood. Her new book is one to put at the top of your middle grader’s (grade 3+) summer reading stack. It is also a great family read aloud, full of warmth and fun. It’s simply a story you won’t want to miss!

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable follow-up to Newbery-winning Merci Suarez Changes Gears, which I loved more than this friendship-centric story set during Merci's 7th grade year. There is less focus on Merci's relationship with her grandfather Lolo than I had hoped for, though brief mentions make clear that his Alzheimer's is worsening, and Merci still mourns the closeness they used to have. Merci navigates the developmentally appropriate and very confusing emotional maelstrom swirling around the development of romantic feelings toward a peer, and she hits rocky waters several times as her relationships with her two best friends evolve and change.

I loved the closeness of Merci's family and wished there were more family scenes in this sequel, especially more scenes with Lolo and with her dad. I kept having to remind myself that it's developmentally normal for Merci to be more focused on her friends than on her family.

At times, Merci's diverse cast of friends (Filipino, Korean, Dominican, Cajun) feels a bit like checking off boxes for a required amount of diversity, though Edna's Dominican identity at least features in this plot line rather than feeling like performative check-boxing.

I enjoyed that Merci is appropriately imperfect and sometimes makes very poor decisions, which all readers will relate to. Her rich private school seems to me to be unrealistically idyllic and welcoming of children from low socioeconomic backgrounds, but perhaps such a place does exist somewhere.

4 rather than 5 stars for the simple fact that I wasn't interested enough in the story to keep reading...I kept abandoning it and then coming back to force myself to finish. I can't identify any particular deficiency compared to Changes Gears but I think, overall, I found the first book in the series more emotionally compelling.

As an aside, I wish the publisher had kept the original cover illustration for the first novel, of Merci zooming on her bike! The paperback edition, which matches this new sequel hardcover, is much more juvenile and shows her in a more passive stance.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel to the Newbery Award winning Merci Suárez Changes Gears continues the story of Merci, her large multigenerational family, and the difficulties of being a seventh grader. This year, Merci has been assigned to manage the small school store along with Wilson, a boy who is amazing at math. As the two reinvent what their school store can be, adding movie merchandise, they end up also being drawn into selling tickets for the Heart Ball, run by Edna, who has managed to become even bossier than usual. Merci has decided not to go to the dance, but is asked to take photographs and agrees as long as she doesn’t even have to enter the gym. When an accident happens, Merci makes a bad decision and covers up the damage, setting off a series of lies that will involve school and family. With no one to talk to, since her grandfather’s dementia is worsening, Merci has to figure out who to trust to help her.

Fans returning to reconnect with Merci will once again find Medina’s rich depiction of Merci’s extended family, her grandfather’s worsening mental abilities, and the gorgeous warmth and love that keeps them all connected. Medina put Merci in quite a horrible situation in this second novel, where she feels alone and unable to be honest. Medina writes it with such empathy and skill that it is almost painful to read, though that makes the resolution all the more marvelous to experience.

As always, Medina’s writing is skillful and detailed. She truly creates a middle school experience with burgeoning romantic feelings and the changes happening between long-time best friends. Medina doesn’t let this all be negative, instead focusing on the confusion but also on the deeper understanding that can result from going through strange middle school circumstances.

Another marvelous Merci novel. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tend to approach book sequels a bit cautiously, hoping that they will fill all the expectations raised by the previous title but also wary because they all too frequently fail to measure up. Having enjoyed Merci Suarez Changes Gears, I wasn't sure whether I'd like Merci Suarez Can't Dance as much as that one. As it turns out, I did. While the start of the book is a little slow, I enjoyed watching Merci navigate seventh grade. She and Edna Santos, who is charge of the Heart Ball, continue to cross swords, but Merci has found her niche in school and at home. Still, things are changing. She has been put in charge of the school store alongside Wilson Bellevue, who recently moved from New Orleans, and Merci loves having the responsibility. Although she doesn't like like Wilson, the two get along just fine. Of course, over the year, Merci starts having strange feelings toward Wilson, feelings that are reciprocated. Her thoughts on romance and love are further complicated when Tia Inez starts spending time with a new boyfriend and Merci worries that she will leave the family. There's also Merci's worries about her grandfather and his failing health. Older readers will relate to much of the school drama while readers who are Merci's age may find the book helpful in dealing with their current situations. The ending with the dance performance at the behest of Miss McDaniels as she responded to Merci's concerns about the school addressing diversity issues was a bit too much for me, but those longing for a feel-good ending will applaud. In the end, Merci realizes that she can dance and that everything is going to be okay even if she doesn't always have the answers or understand what's going on all the time. For many readers, Merci is such a relatable character that it will be hard to envision not following her on into her eighth grade and high school years.