A heartfelt, award-winning middle grade novel about family, friendship, and finding your place in a changing world.
 
Step into Merci Suárez’s world—where middle school drama meets real-life changes at home. In this Newbery Medal-winning novel, sixth-grader Merci navigates the pressures of fitting in at her elite private school while dealing with unexpected challenges in her multigenerational Cuban-American household. As her beloved grandfather Lolo begins acting differently, Merci must balance her responsibilities at home with the ups and downs of friendship, bullying, and growing up.
 
Perfect for readers aged 9–13, this beautifully written story encourages empathy, resilience, and understanding the true meaning of family.
 
📘 Why You’ll Love It:
Thoughtful and relatable themes for tweens
Culturally rich and emotionally resonant
A must-read from a New York Times bestselling author
Ideal for classrooms, book clubs, or bonding with your favorite young reader
 
📖 Award:
🏅 John Newbery Medal for Outstanding Children’s Literature
 
Add this empowering read to your collection today, because growing up isn’t easy, but stories like this make it brighter 💛