Merci Suárez Changes Gears: Chapters 22–38

by Meg Medina
For Merci Suárez, sixth grade is a year of change. A scholarship student at the posh Seaward Pines Academy, Merci must juggle extra community service and family responsibilities, all while coping with a nasty classmate and her beloved grandfather's declining health.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–11, Chapters 12–21, Chapters 22–28
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. impediment
    something immaterial that interferes with action or progress
    “No, miss.” I tap the icon for tardies and add my name to today’s list of shame. “My mom is still getting better from the flu, so my brother drove. He has a speed impediment.”
  2. sheer
    so thin as to transmit light
    She’s wearing a blue top that matches her spiky hair. Sheer scarves are pinned to it.
  3. jut
    extend out or project in space
    She bends forward and puts her hands on the floor. Her hips jut high, so she looks like a mountain.
  4. anemone
    a marine polyp that resembles a flower
    He’ll move his long fingers in a pulsing motion like sea anemones.
  5. mirage
    something illusory and unattainable
    At first I think it’s a mirage, just my thoughts mixing up my eyes.
  6. wring
    twist and press out of shape
    Meanwhile, Lolo is still pacing. He’s wringing the bag’s handles as he walks back and forth.
  7. ragged
    worn out from stress or strain
    When I’m finally sucking in ragged breaths, he kisses my head.
  8. sarcophagus
    a stone coffin, usually bearing sculpture or inscriptions
    Without a mummy and sarcophagus, there is no Great Tomb Project at all.
  9. immortalize
    make famous forever
    “Focus: mummy,” Lena says. “We can work through the problem. Why don’t we get a volunteer from the class? Somebody will want to do it. They’ll be immortalized in plaster, remember? That makes them the star of the whole tomb.”
  10. blanch
    turn pale, as if in fear
    I fiddle with the color and blanch us out to black and white.
  11. utter
    complete
    This is how I find out that Miss McDaniels has yet another pet peeve besides lateness, wasting valuable time, and utter nonsense.
  12. archaeology
    the branch of anthropology that studies prehistoric people
    “The layout would have to be slightly different for a queen’s tomb, so the archaeology team will have to do further research,” Ms. Tannenbaum says, which is welcomed by a faint groan from the back of the room.
  13. grave
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    Lena looks at me gravely across the plaster we’re all holding.
  14. bawl
    cry loudly
    Ms. Tannenbaum closes her eyes as Edna starts to bawl.
  15. etiquette
    rules governing socially acceptable behavior
    I read in one of Papi’s business etiquette books that you should never write an e-mail or a letter when you’re mad because you’re likely to shoot your mouth off and say something you’ll regret.
  16. willful
    done by design
    “Is this true, Miss Suárez?” Dr. Newman says, turning to me. “Did you willfully cut off a classmate’s eyebrows? That seems like an odd thing to do.”
  17. malicious
    having the nature of threatening evil
    “I spoke to your parents, and they are, of course, upset. But I wonder why you feel that this was done maliciously, Miss Santos.” He pauses to let that sink in. “Do you know what that word means?”
  18. prim
    exaggeratedly proper
    Edna’s words are very prim and matter-of-fact, even though they’re deadly.
  19. charismatic
    possessing an extraordinary ability to attract
    “It’s regrettable that two of our most charismatic students have decided that they are incompatible. It seems a shame. But for right now, I think there is another pressing matter for all of us to discuss. Dr. Newman, if you will permit me?”
  20. somber
    serious and gloomy in character
    I glance at Ms. Tannenbaum, who is looking especially somber now.
  21. understatement
    something said in a restrained way for ironic contrast
    “It does have bling,” I say, which is an understatement.
  22. spigot
    a regulator for controlling the flow of a liquid
    Lolo is at the spigot, but he can’t seem to find the nozzle on the hose.
  23. leprosy
    communicable disease characterized by wasting of body parts
    “My dad is volunteering in a clinic for people with leprosy,” she continues.
  24. croon
    sing softly
    It’s merengues and salsas with horns and bongos and singers crooning about la estrellita de Belén.
  25. bobbin
    a spool around which thread or other material can be wound
    Inside are pages filled with pictures that I’ve been taking of all of us. Tía Inés and me looking grungy. Tomás and Axel picking grapefruit and sword fighting. Roli bent over a book. Lolo’s bike in black and white. Abuela’s hands threading the bobbin at her sewing machine.
Created on Thu Nov 01 15:17:57 EDT 2018 (updated Thu Nov 01 15:35:37 EDT 2018)

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