Merci Suárez Changes Gears

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2018

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-2

Chapters 3-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-14

Chapters 15-17

Chapters 18-25

Chapters 26-31

Chapters 32-38

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Merci’s Amblyopic Eye

One of Merci’s eyes is amblyopic, meaning that it sometimes moves involuntarily. This condition flares up when Merci is stressed or upset, and Medina makes repeated reference to this phenomenon throughout the book. The medical condition therefore symbolizes Merci’s struggle to find her place. Her condition stigmatizes her and marks her as different, and even becomes the basis of some of Edna’s bullying taunts. Its presence during her most trying moments heightens the drama and struggle of those moments. Just as Merci does not let her eye prove to be a hindrance, she also overcomes the obstacles presented to her throughout the narrative.

Preciosa

Lolo’s nickname for Merci is a recurring motif within the narrative. For much of the narrative, the name “Preciosa” highlights the unique intimacy of Merci’s relationship to her grandfather: Through his patient nurturing and affection, he makes her feel loved and seen in a way that no other family member can. However, there is also a point in the narrative when Lolo insists that Merci will always be his preciosa, which makes Merci feel constricted and bound to a childish identity. Therefore, through this motif, Medina depicts the complexity of Merci’s relationship to her adult caregiver as it relates to her own tween coming of age. The tween years are a treacherous transition between childhood and adolescence, and Merci’s relationship to her grandfather’s special name for her brings the complexities of that transition to the fore.

Merci’s Photo Album

Near the end of the narrative, Merci presents a touching gift to Lolo: a handsome photo album containing many photos from the Suárez’s family life for the past year. It’s been labeled with everyone’s names, so that Lolo can use it when his Alzheimer’s disorients him. This photo album is an item that Medina foreshadows throughout the narrative, as she depicts Merci using her sensitive and observant artistry to take photos and then enhance them with filters. The photo album therefore symbolizes both Merci’s coming-of-age character arc, as well as the great love that she shares with her grandfather. Through it, Medina communicates that Merci has accepted Lolo’s diagnosis, as she exercises maturity and thoughtfulness to craft both a loving family album and a didactic tool for her grandfather.