Merci Suárez Changes Gears

In Chapter 33, when Merci and Ana go to the pharmacy to pick up Lolo’s medication, Merci hopes that the medicine will cure Lolo. Why do you think she has this unrealistic hope? What is Merci’s process of accepting the reality of Lolo’s condition, and when would you say she has truly accepted what is happening to her grandfather?

• What clues to his condition does Merci ignore early in the novel, and why do you think she ignores them?
• How clear is Roli when he finally explains their grandfather’s illness to Merci?
• What signs show that she struggles to accept the truth of what Roli has told her?
• What evidence is there toward the end of the story that she really does understand the reality of Lolo’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt begins with a piece of evidence and asks students what they make of it. Even if you are asking students to respond to the prompt in writing, you might offer them a little time to discuss this opening piece of evidence. This will let them hear how others connect the evidence to the thesis statements and give you an opportunity to guide them toward clearer statements of these connections.