Merci Suárez Changes Gears

About this book

Sixth-grader Merci, a scholarship student at a private Florida school, juggles a jealous classmate, the demands of her tight-knit Cuban-American family, and the frightening changes in her beloved grandfather. Meg Medina's Newbery Medal winner about family, class, and growing up is widely assigned in grades 4-7.

Why widely assigned

This Middle Grade Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on family and social class.

Where this book is assigned

No curriculum assignments on file yet.

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Common questions

What grade level is Merci Suárez Changes Gears?

Merci Suárez Changes Gears is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 700L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of Merci Suárez Changes Gears?

Merci Suárez Changes Gears has a Lexile measure of 700L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

How long does it take to read Merci Suárez Changes Gears?

It takes about 6h 45m to read Merci Suárez Changes Gears (368 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 405 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Merci Suárez Changes Gears hard to read for 4th grade?

At 700L, Merci Suárez Changes Gears reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.

Is Merci Suárez Changes Gears banned in schools?

Merci Suárez Changes Gears does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.