Empathy with an 11-year-old girl with her ups and downs

'Children don't need to know the ugly things in life.
'There will be plenty of time for that in the future,' my grandmother said before.
My grandmother hates books and movies my brother and I watch that contain sad or cruel content.
But that's so stupid.
Sad things happen to children all the time.
Your dog dies, your parents get divorced, and you get abandoned by your best friend.
Sometimes I receive mean and vicious text messages.
-Page 182

This book, "Mercy Suarez, Shifting Gears," does a great job of depicting the many emotions (joys, sorrows, pleasures) that 11-year-old Mercy experiences.
Mercy, who came to a prestigious school, wants to get along with her friends, but there are many obstacles lurking.
This is because Edna, the leader of the girls, is jealous of Mercy because of the new boy who transferred to the school.
And while Mercy loves to exercise, other girls entering puberty don't like to sweat.
It's not easy to pretend to be rich in a school with so many rich people.
Mercy's school life is filled with numerous incidents and a variety of emotions.
The emotions of a girl just entering puberty, such as anger, frustration, sadness, joy and happiness, are honestly expressed.


Author Meg Medina's descriptions and expressions of the characters surrounding Mercy, as well as the main character, are rich, making it easy for readers to empathize with the emotions of the characters in the book.
In particular, the portrayal of the complex and subtle emotions of a child as he or she transitions from childhood to adolescence is excellent.
This book shows Mercy growing up through various stories about friendship and jealousy with girls, interest in boys, acceptance and love from family, and responsibility.
The book's climax is the expression of sadness, anger, and fear at the moment when the secret of the grandfather, the most beloved and beloved member of the family, is discovered.


A family story that is very similar to ours

'My grandparents live here?' I can't even imagine that happening.
Grandpa's house smells like garlic, onions, and cinnamon.
In the evening, the sound of my grandmother's favorite drama can be heard across the yard.
Grandpa's shoes are always by the kitchen door.
Without you two, who would cook when Mom comes home late? Who would watch the twins? Who would tend the garden? I shake my head.
"no.
“My grandparents don’t live here.” - Page 246

The way people live and the way children grow up are not much different anywhere in the world.
In particular, the family of the main character of this book, Mercy Suarez, resembles our families even more.
The three generations of the Mercy family live together, and they interfere with each other a lot, take care of each other a lot, and do a lot of things together.
Even the father is somewhat conservative, the younger sister and older brother bicker, the grandmother nags and worries about everything about her grandchildren, the aunt who lives with her is concerned about Mercy's appearance and meddles, and the grandfather listens attentively to what his grandchildren say.
It really looks a lot like a Korean family.
That's why, although this book depicts exotic scenery, the characters' actions and feelings are easy to understand and empathize with.


Also, one of the main themes of this book is the relationship between Mercy and her grandfather.
It depicts Mercy experiencing her grandfather's sudden strange behavior and learning the secret behind it.
Many children in Korea will easily empathize with Mercy's heart and will be deeply moved by it.
Many grandparents have formed attachments while helping raise their children, and as life expectancy increases, children spend more time with their grandparents, so children will be able to easily empathize with Mercy's feelings toward her grandfather and read this book.


A novel with a solid structure and humorous writing style that the whole family can enjoy.

Oh my goodness.
Before I can even stop him, my brother explains that the beach was closed a few years ago because farm fertilizer was running into the lake, which eventually led to a toxic algae bloom in the ocean.
“That sticky green seaweed smells like farts and doubles in size in a day.” “You’re saying that to a stranger,” I say from the back seat before Michael’s head explodes.
“But there are so many other fun things to do at the beach.” Then I kick my brother’s seat hard, and he starts picking up music again.
- Page 269

"Mercy Suarez: Shifting Gears" is thick compared to other children's books these days.
Children may be initially intimidated by the 432-page book.
But as you gradually advance through the story, you will easily be drawn into Mercy's daily life through the captivating plot.
Meg Medina perfectly portrays Mercy, as well as her family and friends, in a three-dimensional manner.
As if following the actions and emotions of a real child, the author creates empathy with readers through rich expressions and a genuine story.
And there is a unique humor in the blunt words and actions of adolescent girls.
So the bookshelf is easily turned over.

This book is a novel.
Many people would classify this book as a children's novel.
However, this book is a family novel that can be read by everyone from children to adults, from 10-year-old elementary school students to 99-year-old grandparents.
A 10-year-old child, a mother in her 30s, or a 99-year-old grandfather will all find the same great emotion and happiness when reading this book.
But the appearance of that emotion is different.
The way Mercy appears in the eyes of a 10-year-old child, the way Mercy appears in the eyes of the child's mother, and the way Mercy appears in the eyes of an older person are all slightly different.
As you read the book, you will reflect on your own life experiences, and the emotions and happiness this book gives you will be different depending on your experiences.
This book, which will provide another thrill as your child grows up, is a 'future classic'.