Plot Check
What grade is Merci starting at the beginning of the novel?
6th Grade
What is Merci’s actual first name?
Mercedes.
In which state does Merci attend school?
Florida.
Why does Merci want to avoid the Sunshine Buddies assignment?
She sees it as an unwanted responsibility and does not want to be paired with Michael. (She worries about Edna teasing her about Michael.) Wants to do something more low-key.
What does the word measly mean?
Hint: Merci uses it to describe the textbooks her school provides.
This word means a very small or insufficient amount.
What is the name of Merci’s school?
Seaward Pines Academy
Who is Merci’s older brother? How is he different from Merci?
Roli. He is very smart and gets good grades. He has a very bright future ahead of him.
How does Merci attend Seaward Pines Academy?
On a scholarship.
Why does Merci sometimes feel that she does not fit in at school?
She attends on a scholarship and feels different from wealthier classmates.
What does the word sheepish mean?
Hint: Lolo probably feels this way after the incident with the police.
If someone gives you a look showing that they feel embarrassed or ashamed, they look like this.
What program is Merci assigned to as part of her community service?
The Sunshine Buddies Club
Who is Merci’s grandfather?
Lolo.
What must Merci and Roli complete each year as part of their scholarship requirements?
60 hours of community service each.
What role does Edna play among her classmates, and how does she influence them?
She acts bossy and confident, and other girls often follow her lead.
What does it mean to coax someone?
Example: Mami and Abuela have to coax Lolo to get out of the police car.
This verb means to persuade someone gently or patiently to do something.
What is the name of the new student Merci is assigned to help?
Michael Clark
Which classmate often bosses Merci around and makes unkind comments?
Edna Santos.
What grade average must Merci and Roli maintain to keep their scholarships?
A B+ average.
What two kinds of work does Merci do to help her family?
She helps the painting business and she babysits her cousins.
What is the meaning of the word din?
Example: Miss McDaniels speaks over the din of the crowd.
This word describes a loud, confusing mixture of sounds.
What project are Merci and her classmates asked to create in social studies? (pg. 57)
A relief map of the Tigris and Euphrates river basin.
Which member of Merci’s social studies group helps support Merci’s idea for the project?
Hannah.
What is Mami's name for "home"?
Las Casitas.
What clues from the story suggest that there's something bigger going on with Lolo than his eyesight?
Lolo picked up the wrong twins. Lolo's new glasses have the same old prescription. He isn't as interested in Merci's life as usual.
What does it mean if something is contrabanded?
Merci uses this word when referring to a forbidden footwear incident.
Goods that are forbidden to possess or bring into a particular place, often because of a rule or law.