When Kacie comes back from vacation and discovers her best friend has left and her neighborhood is changing, she uses her art to process what’s happening and bring the community together.
Meet Me on Mercer Street
Discuss the Book
Where’s Nisha? Chapters 1–5
- Important Moment: When Nisha isn’t in school, Kacie investigates and discovers that Nisha’s family’s store has been replaced by a $mart store.
- Ask and Share: What does Kacie learn about Nisha’s family’s store, and why? How would you feel if one of your friends didn’t come back to school and you didn’t know why? What would you do?
Kacie Goes Undercover. Chapters 6–11
- Important Moment: Kacie overhears a conversation about someone taking away the community garden. At the garden, a man says he’s going to build stores there.
- Ask and Share: What leads Kacie to go to the community garden, and what does she find out when she gets there? If someone wanted to take away a place that was important to you, how would you feel? What would you do?
Grown-Up Stuff. Chapters 12–16
- Important Moment: When Kacie gets angry about no one telling her what’s going on, her parents explain that the $mart Development is driving small businesses out of the neighborhood.
- Ask and Share: Why do Kacie’s parents finally tell her what’s happening in the neighborhood? Has anything in your neighborhood or routine ever changed? Were you happy or upset about it?
Art Action. Chapters 17–20
- Important Moment: Kacie remembers Nisha encouraging her to be an artist. Kacie decides to help paint a mural showing that Mercer Street is a community, not just a neighborhood.
- Ask and Share: How does Nisha help Kacie decide to help paint the mural? Who can you turn to when you need to make decisions? If you made a mural, what message would you paint?