First line: " To think, only yesterday I was in my chancletas, sipping lemonade and watching my twin cousins run through the sprinkler in our yard. Now, I'm here in Mr. Patchett's class, sweating in my polyester school blazer and waiting for this torture to be over."

If only I could give this book 6 stars. Medina perfectly writes about so many life experiences and changes with such finesse and appeal for children. A close-knit family that is connected across generations, friendship changes as middle school starts, the looming influence of popularity and exclusion, a grandfather's recent diagnosis of Alzheimers, making personal sacrifices due to financial constraints, a growing sense of identity, and growing up latina.

This story is an indispensable tool for tweens that are experiencing friendship changes, as cliques begin to form and some, including Merci, get left behind and have to make new friends.

The plot organically grew and every character was important. I've been reading so many eye-rollers that this was a breathe of fresh air. I loved this one!