Merci Suárez Plays It Cool

Merci Suárez #3

by Meg Medina

In a satisfying finale to her trilogy, Newbery Medalist Meg Medina follows Merci Suárez into an eighth-grade year full of changes—evolving friendships, new responsibilities, and heartbreaking loss.

For Merci Suárez, eighth grade means a new haircut, nighttime football games, and an out-of-town overnight field trip. At home, it means more chores and keeping an eye on Lolo as his health worsens. It’s a year filled with more responsibility and independence, but also with opportunities to reinvent herself. Merci has always been fine with not being one of the popular kids like Avery Sanders, who will probably be the soccer captain and is always traveling to fun places and buying new clothes. But then Avery starts talking to Merci more, and not just as a teammate. Does this mean they’re friends? Merci wants to play it cool, but with Edna always in her business, it’s only a matter of time before Merci has to decide where her loyalty stands. Whether Merci is facing school drama or changing family dynamics, readers will empathize as she discovers who she can count on—and what can change in an instant—in Meg Medina’s heartfelt conclusion to the trilogy that began with the Newbery Medal–winning novel.

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

352 pages, Hardcover

Published September 13, 2022

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

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3 stars ✰

​​​​ ​​​​“Trust me. This is going to be a new you.”

But what about the old me? I wonder. Where will she go?​​​”

​​​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Middle school days may be far behind me, but revisiting it with Merci reminded me of the small depth of maturity that we as friends and classmates had achieved by then. lol We did not behave quite as juvenile as before, and while there still existed that rift of cliques and expectations, it was not one which was handled with OTT behavior, let alone irrational. 🥺​ And despite the awkwardness or hesitation of finding her place within her friends, her soccer teammates, or even her family, Merci was able to stand up and assert herself without too much hesitation or trepidation.​ It was a level of Merci Suarez Plays It Cool that showed how she was able to learn from her past mistakes and move forward in the next stage in her life in a more positive and mature light​. And most importantly, help her deal with the tragic loss of her beloved Lolo. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

​​​“​​​​It’s like your head thinks the right thing, but your feelings refuse to match up.”

​​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I'm glad that Merci's school life concerns were not that intense or overbearing that it felt unbelievable. In fact, much of the school woes were relatable and I liked how she was able to overcome them without throwing a tantrum or feeling entirely lonely or upset by it. Each change was a reflection of her personal growth. Her ability to not only make do, but work around those issues was a step up for this more level-headed thirteen-year-old which I appreciated.​ 👍🏻👍🏻 Her own fears about her changing feelings towards Wilson was a nice touch, if not predictable, but wholesome. She may have been her snarky self, but there was that self-assuredness that also shined at times. How even when she had to make a tough choice, she tried to always remember who she was -. ​'the one who is inside me forever, too​'. 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

“​​​​Today, I will play the way Lolo would have wanted. I will play my best game, hard and fair.​​”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Lolo's failing health and eventual passing is definitely what takes center stage, along with the brief if not unexpected reappearance of an estranged uncle - challenges and changes that remind Merci how precious true family is. 😢 It is not only the emptiness that echoes as Lolo's Alzheimer's worsens, but the realization that a loving presence will no longer be felt deals more of a worse blow than any minor school grievance. And for that, Merci does rise to the occasion; school trips, crushes, even friends - there will be ups and downs in life, but it is always important to remember what and who matters. How not to let yourself be too overwhelmed by the now, when you'll never forget that you're not alone to face the future. 🙏🏻

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
Genre ~ middle grade
Series ~ Merci Suárez #3
Others in the series ~ Merci Suárez Changes Gears, Merci Suárez Can't Dance
Setting ~ Florida
Publication date ~ September 13, 2022
Est page Count ~ 353 (41 chapters)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 12 minutes
Narrator ~ Frankie Corzo
POV ~ single 1st

Merci is now 13 years old and in 8th grade. She's still hanging with her group of friends, which now includes Edna, who she previously did not get along with. Popular girl, Avery, is showing interest in her ~ will she leave her friends high and dry for popularity or stay true to herself?

It makes me so sad reading about Lola's Alzheimer's, which is still progressing realistically. He needs extra care now, more than Abuela can provide on her own and she's having a tough time coming to terms with the fact that she could use extra help. Your heart just breaks for her and the whole family really. I do wish her younger twin cousins would have matured a little more during the series.

Overall, this was a perfect conclusion to this trilogy. I wonder if we'll see Merci again in high school...

Series notes:
Best to go in order, so you are familiar with the whole Suarez family and Merci's friends.

Narration notes:
Frankie did a fine job, but she obviously does not sound like a 13 year old. I read the first 2 and listened to this one, reading was a better experience for me.

*Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[Tamara York · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying ending to the trilogy. I got a little frustrated with Merci for continuing to deal with problems by avoiding them. But the things she goes through are very relatable for young readers. These are great books for the middle school years. The ending was sad but touching.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merci's in 8th grade, now, and change is afoot. In her family, her beloved grandfather, Lolo, is getting worse in terms of his Alzheimer's, which Merci finds really hard to watch. Her 6-year-old twin cousins who live next door are dealing with the reentry of their feckless father into their lives--and that's hard to watch, too. At school, Merci is torn between two friend group. There are her ride-or-die friends, who she spends most of her time with and who know her really well, but there's also her soccer teammates, led by popular girl Avery. Avery seems to want Merci to be more a part of her (Avery's) group, but only Merci, not Merci's other friends. How can she choose where she wants to be without hurting someone? Why can't she have both sets of friends? As the year advances, all of her choices and experiences just get harder--where will it end?

This is a great series, right on target for middle school and family drama. I love that the family live in three adjacent houses, so they're all essentially one family. Their family's lack of money comes up from time to time--her brother had to take a break from college to earn enough money to go back, Merci's on scholarship at her independent school, etc.--but it doesn't dominate the narrative. The two central pressures are Lolo's deteriorating condition, and the push and pull of middle school friendships (I remember that so well!). I think a lot of kids will easily relate to Merci's situation, and find her a sympathetic character and a good friend. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator's copy of the audiobook.

[Megan Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! Wonderful finish to a fabulous trilogy. I will miss Merci and her family, but they’ll stay with me and I’ll keep recommending the Merci Suarez books to anyone!

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seems like it was just yesterday I was reading the first book about Merci Suárez. I loved the combination of family, school, and sports for this South Florida middle schooler. Now we have the final book in the trilogy and Merci is starting the eighth grade. Her beloved Lolo is fading. Those annoying twin cousins are connecting with their father Marcus in fits and starts. Merci is looking forward to being a Teacher's Assistant -- where will she be assigned? Her friends Hannah, Lena, Edna, and Wilson are all growing and changing, too. The class is looking forward to their 8th grade trip to St. Augustine. We will tag along and see the sights along with them. This is a bittersweet read. It is hard to say goodbye to Merci as a reader. Each book has given Merci new challenges to face as all middle school kids do. It was a delight to spend one last book in Las Casitas -- the three house family compound in Palm Beach. As Lolo would say, "Goooooooooool."

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

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meg Medina has integrated Merci's Cuban heritage throughout this series with the language and the culture. Merci has been a good example for young readers about being your authentic self and being true to your values. I will miss the Suarez family, but they will always have a place in my heart.

I'd love to know the Suarez family's past history before they came to Florida. Perhaps Ms. Medina will write a prequel!

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fitting end to the Merci Suárez series sees Merci navigate her 8th grade year, including the very relatable complexity of managing friendships in different social groups that do not mix. Merci finds herself with an 8th grade class schedule that cuts her off from her 3 closest girl friends during most of the school day, and she is anxious about fitting in among an unfamiliar social crowd. Some friends from soccer team are in her classes, but they are "cooler" than her and seem to have graduated to a new level of social maturity...one that involves kissing a love interest. Merci is flattered when the queen bee of this circle begins to include her in invitations, but she faces jealousy and a sense of betrayal from her oldest friends when she appears to be moving away from them. Merci finds herself walking a tightrope of wanting to be included in the new group without alienating or being disloyal to her more steady friends. It is a dilemma that will be recognizable and relatable to upper elementary and middle school readers. Merci's friendship and possible romance with Wilson also deepens in complexity in this 3rd book.

Merci's 8th grade year sees more changes to her loving and tightknit family circle, including Roli returning from a college he can no longer afford, the surprising appearance of the absent father of her twin cousins, and her beloved grandfather Lolo's advancing dementia and declining overall health.

Like the first two books, Plays it Cool features the Lolo storyline prominently and with heart and sensitivity. Millions of American children have loved ones with dementia, and too few books for middle grade readers tackle this heartbreaking and confusing phenomenon. I loved the first book in the series for the richly drawn character of Lolo and for the beauty of the intergenerational relationships depicted. This last in the trilogy left me with my heart in my throat and appreciation for the positive depiction of a loving extended family facing challenges of elder care, child care, grief, and loss.

This review is of the audiobook edition narrated by Frankie Corzo. [Audiobook edition not yet on Goodreads.] Corzo's narration was overall enjoyable, especially the Spanish dialogue, but over time I found her pronounced vocal fry to be grating and increasingly irritating over time. I resorted to listening to the last few chapters with my iPhone speakers rather than earbuds, to blunt the sound.

As with the previous books, I appreciate the depiction of a working class family that is not only not dysfunctional, but an exemplar of cross-generational closeness and care. The one implausible note here, as in the first two, is Merci's near seamless integration with her peer group in an expensive, exclusive private school. Though the first book touched lightly upon socio-economic differences among the friends, the gulf seems to have almost entirely disappeared in this 3rd book, even on an overnight field trip in which financial differences might have played a role.

Recommended purchase for elementary and middle school collections where Merci Suarez has been popular. It could be read as a stand-alone, but 75% of the richness of the book is in continuing the character arcs from the first two books.

Thanks to Libro.fm for the Advanced Listening Copy of the audiobook through their ALC for Educators program.

[Gabrielle Schwabauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merci Suarez is such a perfect middle-grade protagonist. A unique voice (without trying too hard), relatable situations (without being boring or predictable) and lots of thoughtful realizations (without becoming heavy-handed). I especially loved the nuance of this conclusion. Unlike many other middle-grades, even the supporting cast get to be complex. Merci discovers that not every kid has to be either a mean bully or a devout friend; some people are decent to you but don't really have your back. Grieving isn't a binary choice between "cry and get angry" or "try to find some hope." Difficult family members might be worth knowing, even when their behavior isn't ideal--but without making excuses for that behavior. I really felt for Merci all the way through and I'm so sad her series is over.

My one complaint--and it's brief but major--is WHY are all the contemporary middle-grade and YA books that deal with first crushes STILL furthering this narrative that you can kiss somebody without asking? You cannot. You just cannot. It's never okay. It's never good. Especially when the other person is clearly surprised, even if they are surprised and then pleased. I keep seeing this trend where one character kisses another and then says "Was that okay?" as if to retroactively invoke consent, but that's not how consent works. You don't get to be like "lol hope you don't mind!" after the fact and then get a pass. Kelly Yang's Front Desk series (my other favorite contemporary middle grade right now) handled this fabulously, and honestly, I was disappointed to see an otherwise outstanding series fall pray to one of the most damaging teenage norms I see depicted. It's not brave or cool or exciting to surprise-kiss somebody. It's wrong. Maybe an understandable mistake thanks to cultural pressure, but not something a savvy adult author can include with no acknowledgment of its wrongness, no chance to learn and grow. Merci and Wilson had such a wholesome, lovely connection and I wish it hadn't ended that way.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this third book in the Merci Suarez trilogy! I absolutely loved book one and this one is a close second!

Meg Medina has such a talent for narrating middle school experience. She so clearly creates situations with friends, teachers, boys and girls, siblings, and parents that feel real. The way she characterizes Avery and the way she treats people or how Edna treats people or even Merci are full of subtle details that really create a meaningful story. The way these friends interact felt so realistic and relatable for readers this age. I thought it was especially interesting when Merci realizes that Avery isn't a friend she can always count on. But Wilson will always be there for her. Deep and important lessons!

I absolutely love Merci's grandfather Lolo and their special moments in this book. Tears were shed and I thought the family dynamics are really beautifully described in this novel.

Loved how Merci navigates a lot of relatable situations for kids in 8th grade -- trying to fit in, trying out for a sports team, how to live with grief, liking boys for the first time, changing friendships, how to be a good friend in general.

The characters are so dynamic and complex in these books. I loved the connections Merci has with her parents, Lolo, Abuela, brother Roli (and his difficulties in making enough money to go to college), Tia Ines and twin cousins (their subplot is really interesting with their estranged father back in their lives but how he doesn't live up to expectations). So interesting to see how her relationships with friends change and shift. And how she has real dilemmas like which friends to room with and how to navigate changing interests with friends.

For me, the inclusion of the soccer coach's pronouns felt awkward and political. Didn't add to the overall story and honestly I thought it was a typo at first.

Overall, a fantastic conclusion to the series. I absolutely loved getting more from Merci and will miss her and her family!

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merci is in 8th grade this year and it's supposed to be a great year. There's the big 8th grade class trip, football games, being a teacher's aide, and making the soccer team, but things aren't going as smoothly as Merci hoped. Things at home are stressful with her grandfather Lolo's worsening Alzheimer's and her abuela's reluctance to allow outside help in caring for his needs. Her older brother Roli is back home from college as he can no longer afford tuition, and the father of her twin cousins is back in the picture. There's plenty of drama at school, too, with Merci having to choose between sticking with her tried and true friends, or hanging out with the cool, popular girls on the soccer team. Merci soon learns that real friends are the ones who will always have your back, especially when you need it the most.

Merci's stories are so wonderfully written in their depiction of family life, especially amid the challenges that having a loved one with Alzheimer's brings. I loved reading about the multigenerational Suarez family and their interactions with each other that reminded me very much of my own family life. The school drama Merci experiences with her friends is something young readers will relate to as well. Throughout these books, Merci shows that family, no matter how crazy things can seem, can stick together during tough times and that real friends are the best kind to have. I wish there could be more books about Merci but this one is definitely a satisfying ending to a great trilogy.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This year Merci is in 8th grade. A lot is going on at home, Lolo’s Alzheimers is progressing, some days he doesn’t recognize anyone and he’s always “waiting for a bus”. Tia has reached out to Marcos - the twins' father - for some financial help, which brings him back into the picture. Merci isn’t sure she likes sharing the twins with someone else. And at school . . . Merci’s with her regular group of friends, but they only have lunch and PE together. But she has homeroom with Avery - from the soccer team. There’s a big sleep away trip for 8th graders to St. Augustine, Merci, and her friends equal 4, the number of students per room including Edna, who is better than a random person - but when Avery asks Merci to join her Soccer Room, Merci doesn’t know what to do. Could this be her opportunity to finally be part of the popular crowd, but what about her friends?

Merci Suarez Plays It Cool is the most poignant of the series, as Merci gets older, she starts to see things in a different way - she's more involved with the family drama as well as friend issues. She has more responsibility, she's a TA at school and is entrusted with keeping things private that happen in the counseling center. I laughed and I cried. I have loved this series and recommend all three. Merci and her family are Latinx.

Crossposted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay for me. I enjoyed the second in the series the most.

It's difficult for me to imagine reading this as an eleven-, twelve-, thirteen-year-old. Would the who-should-I room-with drama hold my interest then? Would I have been tempted to leave my friends if a popular girl asked me to room with her, even if I understood perfectly well it was only because they didn't want a random person assigned to their room? I really didn't understand Merci trying to save them seats and plan something on the free day with the soccer group, when she so clearly understood the circumstances under which she was asked. And then it was a major plot in the story, so it got kind of wearing.

This one felt like a long story during which not a whole lot happened, as it only covered a few months of school, whereas the first book covered the whole year, didn't it?

I really have a soft spot for that junior high time period, and I enjoy reading series where we get to follow the character through those years. But for me, this trilogy just didn't have the magic of Alice or Anastasia. I still really appreciate its existence, and I did honestly like the second one.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved the Merci Suarez series. This was the most beautiful ending to what is now a completed trilogy. I’ll be twisting my angsty pre-teens arm and using bribery or whatever means necessary to get this book shared with her.

Middle school is hard. Friend circles and their exclusivity are tough- annoying parents are and aging grandparents is also something they are dealing with. Merci does it with such honesty and authenticity- I love her as she struggles through the it all. I also love that she’s not alone- she’s got an amazing family and friends that count. trigger alert- her grandpa has Alzheimer’s in this series with it being the most progressed in this last one. Not gonna lie- I cried. It was the beautiful sweet tears of old middle school memories of losing my own grandma… but also the still recent sadness of watching my own rambunctious grandpa lose his spark at the end. Growing up is tough- but books like these, that acknowledges the pain but also shows some beauty are healing balm. Read this one- it’s great.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of this series couldn't have asked for a better finale than what the author provides in this third book featuring Merci Suarez. As an eighth grader, she is growing up, dealing with changes both at school and at home. The scenarios she faces are relatable and described perfectly so that readers feel as though they are right there with Merci as faces an almost unbearable but mostly expected loss, notes shifting family dynamics which require her to figure out where she fits in, and is confused by the unexpected attention from a classmate and soccer teammate who has ignored her previously. And then there's the always confusing and often infuriating Edna Santos. Can she be counted on as a friend? Meg Medina writes from the heart here, and it shows. It's almost as though she is Merci Suarez of knew someone like her intimately. Readers will be just as invested in Merci in this book as they were in Merci Suarez Changes Gears. This one is probably my favorite out of all three, and I was sad to see Merci's story come to an end.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book of the award-winning Merci Suárez series continues to captivate readers with its heartfelt, humorous, and authentic portrayal of middle school life. Medina once again brings to life the vibrant and relatable protagonist, Merci Suárez, as she navigates the challenges of adolescence with grace and determination.

Merci is now in seventh grade and finds herself dealing with new dynamics at school, her evolving friendships, and the pressures of being a part of the school's soccer team. She also continues to grapple with her family's struggles, including her grandfather's battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Medina's writing is both engaging and accessible, with a perfect balance of humor and poignancy.

The dialogue is authentic, and the situations Merci encounters are relatable to anyone who has experienced the ups and downs of middle school. The themes of friendship, family, and self-discovery are explored with sensitivity and insight, making this a truly rewarding read.

[DC · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last of the Merci Suarez books. If you've read Meg Medina's other two books, you'll notice the growth of her tween character, Merci Suarez. These books can stand alone, but I think it's better to read them in order.

I enjoyed watching Merci grow from the first book Merci Suarez Changes Gears, through Merci Suarez Can't Dance, then this final book, Merci Suarez Plays It Cool. A great trilogy for readers ages 10-13, not that adults can't enjoy it as well. The books feel fairly realistic, depicting a young Hispanic girl growing up in a family trying to succeed in the U.S. In this book, Merci's older brother, Roli, has to take a break from college because the family can't continue funding his education (he's studying to be a doctor). Lolo, Merci's paternal grandfather, is starting to show more signs of dementia. And the twins, Merci's cousins from Tia Ines (Merci's dad's sister), meet their real father. Merci is dealing with all this, while navigating 8th grade and learning what it means to have true friends.

A great read!

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of books is one I have really enjoyed. So many books these days show middle school students as foul mothed, sexually precocious etc, and while these books are important and I have read many that I have thoroughly enjoyed. However, it sometimes seems it’s getting to the point where the less obvious, quieter kids who are still trying to discover what it means to be a good friend and not a boyfriend or girlfriend, who are trying to navigate their way around cliques and mean girls etc are being overlooked. This series of books is for them. In this one Merci has to deal with some pretty heavy stuff. She has difficult choices to make and she doesn’t always make the right ones, but she’s definitely learning what it means to be a true friend. It did end rather abruptly, especially considering it's the final book in a trilogy.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful ending to a lovely trilogy - bittersweet and so real. Medina does not flinch away from all the things that might happen within a Latine family - the closeness and how it creates expectations that are both stifling and comforting, growing up and being in 8th grade and discovering yourself and your relationships and friendships, having a close grandparent who has Alzheimers and the toll that it takes on yourself and family and grief and how it comes so sudden and so unexpectedly and how it might affect you
Love this series so much - this would be perfect for a 7th grader (the themes are definitely perfect for that age) and up.
contains one chaste kiss, mentions of academic cheating, death of a family member

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merci Suárez is getting ready to start 8th grade. At home, she struggles with watching her Lolo go downhill with his Alzheimer’s. At school, she is happy to be on the soccer team and surprised when popular Avery Sanders starts talking to her. Will she have to choose between a new friendship with Avery and her longstanding friendship with Edna?

I didn’t realize when I got this book that it was the third book in a series, but it was easy to pick up without having read the first two books. This book rings true to many issues middle schoolers might face, and I highly recommend it to older elementary and middle school students! Frankie Corzo did a great job with the audiobook narration.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

[Matthew Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The situations and emotions that these characters experience are so true-to-life that readers can easily sympathize and understand them. I can't believe that this is the last I'll hear from the Suarez family! The great thing is that I can go back to the beginning and spend more time with them. You have to love a good book, and all three titles fall into that category. (When asked for a project at work what fictional character you would like to have dinner with, one of my answers was the Suarez family!) This is an honest ending to an exceptional series, hitting the tone of each year of middle school perfectly.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After Changes Gears and Can't Dance, Merci and her extended family are back. Lolo's health is rapidly declining, and the family is stressed providing for his care; her aunt even asks the twins' father for financial support. Roli is back from college and working hard so he can continue to afford school. When school starts, Merci has to decide on whether she wants to keep hanging out with her friends, or whether she can be part of the "cool kids" when Avery asks her to hang out. She is back to playing soccer, but how will everything be affected when Lolo's health takes a significant downturn?

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to @libro.fm and the publisher, I was able to listen to an ALC of this terrific middle grade novel that wraps up a trilogy that started with Newbery Award winner Merci Suárez Changes Gears. Although I have not read the first two books in the trilogy, I was able to read this book as if it were a stand alone novel. This story takes us into the life of 8th grade Merci who is struggling with changing friendships, family issues, and new feelings for a guy friend. Merci experiences a terrible loss and must figure out how to deal with unfamiliar feelings. I would highly recommend this book to middle school students who enjoy realistic fiction and want a story with a little romance.

[Flannery · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
The book ended abruptly. None of the plots were really resolved, in fact, new plots seemed to be starting. The parts about soccer team tryouts added nothing to the story and distracted from what little point there was. The stuff about Wilson and Merci came to nothing as did all the subplots of the book. It was obvious that the author spent a lot of time researching a field trip to St. Augustine, and wanted to squeeze as much of the research she did into the few chapters that Merci was there. This took away from the "emotional twist" at the end, although this "twist" was highly predictable.
I know Merci had to end some day, but did it have to be like this?

[David Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

How appropriate that this is the first book I review for 2024. This was a great series and I I loved 🥰 all the characters. The storyline between the students was very interesting and the closure we got about Lolo was appropriate to his condition.
I would love if Meg did a follow up with Merci graduating from high school. Does her brother become a doctor? D or the twins get to have a relationship with their dad ? Just unanswered questions but very true to life
Thanks for this series - I love when we see Spanish and English used together throughout the series.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eighth grade starts out on a bad note when Merci finds out her three best friends have classes together while she’ll be alone. Avery, the most popular teammate on her soccer team is in a couple of classes with her best friend Mackenzie. Though they seem to ignore her Merci is desperate to feel accepted, so begins acting in ways that are completely against her nature. Read more on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Casey Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leave it to Meg Medina to fill out this trilogy with heart, love and sadness. Merci's voice has aged perfectly. Just that touch angier and well ... touchier. It's just really good, ok?

p. 68: "Every time he does it, Papa gets mad at Lolo, even though it's not anybody's fault - not even Lolo's when you think about it. ... How can you follow a rule when you don't remember it?"

I really appreciate the storyline about Marco - her cousin's dad who is only marginally present.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course, it's a must-read, this third of Meg Medina's trilogy about Merci. As one of my own granddaughters is an eighth grader, too, I loved this peek into this eighth grader's thoughts. It is a poignant ending with Merci and her friends, her wonderfully supportive, and wise, family, wrapped around the dilemmas facing someone who wants to do well, be one of "that group", but do the right thing, too. She really is growing up!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the advance copy!

[Marisa Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book in Merci Suarez trilogy. She is now in the 8th grade. She wants to hang with the cool kids, her feelings for Wilson are maturing and Lolo’S health issues are getting worse. I really enjoyed this book series. Merci is a fun and realistic character. It is bittersweet to see that she is growing up and is starting to see the world through a different lens. I will miss her.

[Wina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merci Suarez book 3--Contemporary fiction for ages 9-12 contains a good dose of Spanish, but most was explained. Merci is in 8th grade now, and there are still adjustments to make in middle school and continued changes at home. There is tension for the first half about how Merci is navigating her friendships. Loving family and well-rounded characters focuses on mental health/Alzheimer's, and grief. A poignant and hopeful/satisfying ending.