The Mercy Step

Meet Mercy Hanson, a precocious child whose intelligence is a mixed blessing but ultimately offers her a way out of the life she's born into.

The seventh child of nine born to Ornette and Irael Hanson, Windrush generation immigrants to Bradford, West Yorkshire from Jamaica, Mercy navigates her father's violence, her mother's religiosity, the casual and focused racism shown by neighbours and officials, and the normalised sexual abuse from some in her parents' circle.

At times it's a tough read, but Mercy is a gutsy girl who knows her own mind and, over time, develops a core of steel that carries her through the tough times.

Hutchinson brings to life a Bradford I didn't previously know. My best friend is from the city and I know it show more reasonably well, but we are both white, almost a decade younger than Mercy, and her experience of the city is an eye-opener.

The story is told largely in the third person from Mercy's perspective and so is not as detailed as it could have been in its description of her difficult life. This makes it all the more powerful because Mercy understands the things that are wrong and is both powerless to change them and furious that none of the adults who are supposed to care for her challenge them. show less

Mercy is the young daughter of Liv and Sonny. Her parents immigrated to the UK from Jamaica. She is one of many siblings, and some of the elder siblings were left behind in Jamaica. Mercy very much longs to be close to her mother, but her mother is busy with work, and obsessed with the church. Her father is abusive towards both his children and his wife. Over time, Mercy cannot understand why her mother does not leave her father, and Mercy feels it is her job to protect her mother. The family life is very chaotic and troubled. Mercy finds solace in books and her toy, Dolly.

A heart wrenching story, Mercy gradually learns that she must take a stand to survive. Though the story is heart breaking, there is still humour and hope .

Highly show more recommended. show less

Reason read: This book is one of the Women's Prize Short list. It is a debut novel, a coming of age story of Mercy, A Jamaican girl living in Britain. she is so resilient in spite of many difficulties and hardships. Mercy is exceptional in so many ways but most of all she is a survivor. She survives her dysfunctional family. Mercy wants, desires, yearns to have a relationship with her mother but finally learns that she must break the umbilical cord and survive on her own. Other elements is Christianity as a crutch, solace and tool for control. Mercy is exposed to domestic violence and has to fight off sexual advances. I believe the time period is the 1960s. The criticisms might include how utterly strong and mature Mercy is in spite of show more such a horrendous environment and the fact that she is just a child, not even a teenager. Good humor throughout the story helps. The story really is the story of a mother daughter connection from the womb to finally breaking the umbilical cord when Mercy realizes that she cannot depend on her mother. show less