Small Mercies

by Bridget Krone

Mercy needs to stand up for herself. She also needs a miracle.Eleven-year-old Mercy lives with her eccentric foster aunts – two elderly sisters so poor they can afford only one lightbulb. A nasty housing developer is eyeing their house, which suddenly starts falling apart – just as Aunt Flora does, too. She’s forgetting words, names and even how to behave in public. Mercy tries to keep her head down at school but when a classmate frames her for stealing the school’s raffle money, Mercy’s teachers decide to take a closer look at her home life. With the help of a neighbour, Mr Singh, who teaches Mercy about Gandhi and his principles of passive resistance, Mercy finds a tool that can help solve her problems. But first, like Gandhi, she needs to stand up for herself. She also needs a miracle. And to summon it she has to find her voice and tell the truth – and that truth is neither pure nor simple. A book that already feels like a classic, Small Mercies holds a strong message for children today. Full of heart, it will shine among the best children's literature for years to come.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, South Africa, Africa, Childrens, Social Justice

191 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2020

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so rare to discover a middle grade book set in South Africa. I have some dear friends who have roots there, so I was very interested in reading this book. The cover is captivating. Our main character is Mercy. She lives with two elderly sisters who are doing their best. When challenges come into their household, Mercy learns about trusting others and the resources she has in herself and her neighbors. I found it surprising and engaging. It would make a wonderful addition to the middle grade collection at my library and I hope we will be able to order it.

Thank you to Catalyst Press and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Hannah prozesky · Rating 5 out of 5]

she's my aunt so I'm biased but I loved it so much !!

[Lloyd Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

THIS middle-grade read about the importance of telling the truth is set on our hearty South African soil, in KwaZulu-Natal’s capital, Pietermaritzburg.

Mercy lives with her adoring, and slightly barmy, adoptive family, Aunt Mary and Aunt Flora. Their little family of three isn’t well off financially and it causes Mercy to further withdraw as her classmates try and befriend her. Added to this, one of Mercy’s aunts begins to show signs of Alzheimers, a greedy man arrives and hopes to purchase their land for a large development and a nosy social worker pops into their lives.

Luckily, Mercy and her aunts have an incredible support system and, while things may seem dour, things usually turn out well in the end.

While the main story arch highlights the importance of telling the truth, it also covers race, bullying, poverty, mental health, friendship and community.

From a slow intro, a whiplash speed character development, and a second half that almost feels rushed, I can’t call myself a big fan of how the book is written. I can only hope that if the author writes another book, that one of the secondary (and quite important) plot points is finished off.

[Katie Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5, rounded up. This book may sit better with another reader, but it kind of stressed me out--the narrative was a little unfocused. I also felt like there wasn't a strong adult character available to support Mercy (her aunts are kind, but they're also flaky, which is a trigger point for me), Mercy's classmates were often cruel, and a beloved animal dies. That being said, I did appreciate the cultural aspects that were integrated into the story; I haven't read much South African literature.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mercy lives alone with her two old aunts in an old South African house, with not much money. As everything goes wrong around her (one aunt's dementia is worsening, the house is falling down, school is a constant strain, and evil developer threatens them, and the fear of a social worker taking her away is a constant), Mercy does her best to help hold things together. I had to keep flipping to the happy ending as I read for reassurance. So for myself this is only a three star book because I was tense alongside Mercy for almost all of it, but I pushed it to four stars because was a good story, well told and full of interesting details and characters, that deserves being read.

[Erynne Bundt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a little girl who is adopted. She is supposed to get ready for an oral presentation, and she is nervous about standing up in front of the class. Can she do it? This would be a great read-aloud for older elementary or middle school students.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart, this book will be one of my favorites of the year for sure. Mercy lives with her elderly white aunts Mary and Flora in a small town in South Africa. As Flora becomes ill and money runs short, they decide to take on a boarder in the garden cottage, Mr Singh. Add to her troubles at home Mercy’s school life is a miser game of social survival each day. I loved each of the sweet quirky characters in this book who represent the wide array of people that make up communities. I also deeply appreciated the way the author introduces some of the teaching of Ghandi to readers. The ecological theme that runs through the larger theme of community and chosen family was beautifully done and not overworked. Small Mercies will go on the list with The House in the Cerulean Sea as a favorite book to give away to Middle Grader readers and readers of all ages.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mercy is a foster kid who has a happy, if odd, home with the elderly Aunt Mary and Aunt Flora. She starts to worry that her happy home is going to be stripped away from her when Aunt Flora's memory starts to go, the family becomes increasingly strapped for funds, and the house starts to fall apart with one thing after the other. With all these worries about home, Mercy finds it hard to find the concentration at school to figure out who to do her oral on or the energy to deal with others in the class.

This book is set in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, and author and illustrator are both South African. We have very few books set in South Africa in our library, so I'm glad to add this to the shelves. Learning some South African vocabulary was fun (I love how they call flip flops slip slops). Mercy is a sweet girl and does a good bit of growth through this story. There's a little mystery to be solved that I figured out before the characters even realized there was a mystery, and I loved how solving that brought the whole community together in ways nothing else had been able to do so far. It's a nice feel good ending. Hand this to readers who like tales of foster kids, like feel good stories, or who want to take an arm chair trip to South Africa.

Notes on content: 3 minor swears I recognized (I think the bad guy says some other bad words, but they weren't in a language I understand). No sexual content. The bad guy locks a kid in a car and threatens harm to others, but bee stings are the worst injury actual incurred.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a 3.5 for me. I had no idea where the story was heading at the start, but I ended up really enjoying how all the pieces of the plot started fitting together near the end. Mercy's life in South Africa with her elderly eccentric aunts--Mary and Flo--is quiet enough, but Mercy rather likes it that way since everything about it is predictable. But financial challenges start making it hard for her family to eat well or to pay their bills. As Aunt Flo becomes increasingly confused about the world around her, Aunt Mary realizes that she needs to find a safe place for her sister and Mercy wonders what will happen to her. Mercy is also dealing with a classmate's bullying and framing her for a theft. The story features a dastardly villain, a developer who wants the sisters to sell their house, and a marvelous hero in Mr. Singh, who loves discussing his connections to Gandhi. There are joyous moments and moments of heartbreak and misunderstanding, and even a pivotal arrival of some bees and honey. I also enjoyed how Mercy kept searching for someone she admired on whom to focus her report and the perfect response of her teacher, Mrs. Pruitt, to her oral report. It would be hard not to root for everything to turn out all right in the end for Mercy, who has had more than one or two disappointments in her life.

[Claire du Trevou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small Mercies is a beautiful and whimsical coming of age story, set in a small town of South Africa.
In a country where identity politics are a tricky subject at best, Krone carefully, thoughtfully, and generously explores how a young girl finds her way in the muddle of it all.
The story weaves together historical yet ever relevant topics of displacement, cultural identity, forms of resistance, and intergenerational dynamics through the telling of 11 year old Mercy's life with her 2 eccentric foster aunts. Told in this way, Krone is able to introduce and unpack relevant concepts to a younger readership in a entertaining and accessible manner.

A delightful read! Despite being written for 9-14 year olds, the story both moved me to tears and made me laugh.

[Heidi]

This middle-grade novel from South Africa is a delightful read for people of any age. In such a short space (less than 200 pages), Krone weaves together multiple themes: racial diversity, mental illness, bullying, the meaning of family, nonviolent resistance, loyalty and much more.

Two threads that resonated with me: Young Gandhi's life in South Africa and the night he spent in a small-town train station after being thrown off the train for sitting in First Class and how that experience shaped the man he became. And what constitutes a "safe and secure" home for a child: one where the space is spotless and everything works perfectly, or a less conventional home where the child is loved and cherished.

There's also a subplot involving bees.

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Publication Date: 2020
Award: Outstanding International Book
Genre: Fiction

Small Mercies is about Mercy, a foster kid who lives with her quirky Aunt Mary and Aunt Flora in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Mercy worries that her happy home will be taken away when her aunt starts forgetting things, the house begins to fall apart, and money is tight. On top of that, she has to deal with school problems. Mercy is sweet and brave, and it’s great to see how she grows throughout the story. There’s a little mystery, and I liked how solving it brought the community together. The ending is heartwarming and satisfying. This is a wonderful book for anyone who enjoys stories about growing up, finding courage, and the importance of family and community.

[Marah Bandit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This realistic fiction novel follows Mercy, a foster child living with her two elderly aunts who are very poor. Meanwhile, Mercy is struggling to keep her head down at school as to not draw attention to herself, for drawing attention to herself means people taking a closer look into her home life, which in turn could lead to her being taken away from her aunts care. I think I could share this book as a continuing story in my future classroom, and I think many students would enjoy it. It covers themes such as the foster care system in Africa, poverty, bullying, Alzheimer's, as well as introduces students to a more accurate picture of modern-day Africa than they may be exposed to.

[Hannah of the Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! High quality middle grade novel about family, friendship, and standing up for what's right. Mercy is an orphan who lives with her elderly and eccentric aunts. Challenges include bullies at school, financial struggles at home, her aunt's dementia, and her fear of being taken away by a social worker. The book shows the multicultural nature of South Africa but the main focus is on Mercy's everyday troubles and not on systemic issues such as race. The book is well written with memorable, quirky characters and meaningful themes. You quickly fall in love with the characters and care about what happens to them. Parts are hilarious, other parts touching. Great for ages 10 and up.

[Diana (diana_reads_and_reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this book is middle grade, so not necessarily meant for me. It was readable and sweet, but one of the reasons I wanted to read this was to get a strong sense of place, and it didn’t deliver. This book could honestly have been set anywhere, even my own modestly sized midatlantic city. Although I felt like the author’s voice for Aunt Mary was authentic, the voice for Mercy as a Black South African child being raised by white foster parents just wasn’t there for me. The last chapter’s twist seemed unnecessary as well. I won’t be passing this on to my 10 year old.

[Regan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small Mercies was published in 2020, and it a juvenile novel about domestic fiction. This book takes place in South Africa and is an USBBY Award winner. Mercy is a young girl in foster care who livers with her elderly aunts. With their house falling down, her Aunt Flora not remembering things well, and money being tight, Mercy fears she’s going to be taken from the place she feels safe. With the help of an oral presentation, protecting a tree, and the understanding all children have the right to be safe, Mercy begins to find her voice.

[Reba GG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet little delightful book.

I love a cute story of South African community. It’s written in a simple tone that has a sweet appreciation of the every day and mundane life.

The main character Mercy, who is 11 years old, lives with her to elderly aunts faces the challenges of money, not quite fitting in, and one of the aunts starting to become forgetful. You see her at school. You see her in her neighborhood. And there’s a cute plot line that runs the story.

Taken on its own terms, it’s five stars.

There is this small subgenre of sweet African fiction.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always looking for books to add to my classroom and recommend to the school library, I am definitely adding this one. Although it is a gentle, positive story, many challenges facing students are included in the story and always treated with understanding and respect to the characters. I feel like many students can relate to Mercy (main character). Adults can also gain an awareness of what those quiet youngsters are feeling as well.

[Jacqueline Hodder · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful rendition of a young girl's experience with a hearbreaking condition and how she deals with the associated shame. Mercy is a wonderfully wrought character who charms us with her view of the world and her protective nature. We are also plunged straight into Mercy's world and we are kept reading by the mystery that is revealed early on. An engaging character study about a very important issue.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an audio book. The soothing narration, replete with authentic accents, brought the South African characters to life. I would recommend this book for teachers and students grade 5 and above because it gives insight into the life situation, thoughts, and emotions of a student who knows she is different from the rest.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this charming read as a Goodreads giveaway. When Mercy, a middle schooler in South Africa, experiences angst in her relationship with her teacher, classmates, and foster aunts, she finds personal strength and courage in order to fight for the truth.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how the characters are depicted on the front cover – this draws you into the book immediately. The characters are relatable and interesting. Mercy is a wonderful character and it’s interesting how she finds the courage to speak up. Great book for the age group and adults alike.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked the story but it took too long to get to the point where I was enjoying it, over halfway through.
Also, a glossary of South African terms would have been helpful. While most of the foreign words can be guessed at by context, younger readers might not have developed this ability.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

LIB 616: I would have liked to give this 4 stars, but I think too many coincidences happened in the story, which felt too much like the author's hand moving pieces on the chessboard. The pacing was awkward too. The story itself is engaging and the characters are likeable.

[LisaSunshineGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was beautiful to see the growth in Mercy's character and courage. Also liked how insights about Gandhi were subtly interwoven in the text. Especially appreciated learning more about the term Satyagraha, as a "polite insistence on the truth."

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensitive Read

This book would suit a young reader of middle grade age and beyond. It will help them bolden their outlook in life and help them to have empathy for others whilst believing in one's self.

[Sara Leacock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow burn. Took quite a while to get going and I spent most of the book assuming that nothing much was going to happen, and then happen it did. I enjoyed the characters, writing, and learning a bit more about South Africa.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something a little different to see a snapshot of life elsewhere.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful tween novel set in South Africa with quirky characters.

[Heidi Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had potential to be good, but then the ending just left me with more questions.