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butterflyphantasy's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
beerandskittles's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
kirstenrose22's review against another edition
4.0
This is part of the summer reading list for the middle school here, so I've wanted to read it for a while. And I really enjoyed it (I have a soft spot for settlers on the frontier). I particularly liked how complex the questions of identity were inthis book. Very well done, and fascinating.
claudiamccarron's review against another edition
5.0
Every time I read this, something new pops out at me. This time it was Mercy: What a gutsy, courageous character she is, and her huge capacity for forgiveness and survival. I felt how conflicted she was, and the pain her choices caused her. So good.
shelznh's review against another edition
5.0
Great read. Doesn't take sides. It doesn't paint the Mohawk as justified and the whites as evil as is so often the case. Shows the good, bad and ridiculous of both groups of human beings. And the inner turmoil felt by Mercy and the other captives as they tried to reconcile their new way of life with their deeply rooted customs of before.
diamontique's review against another edition
5.0
The Ransom of Mercy Carter is a pretty good book, and it is just as good as I last read it (I last read this book about two years ago.). The book starts out in Deerfield,Massachusetts, in 1704. Mercy and her family have gotten to bed, and for some reason Mercy just can't sleep. Then, in a matter of minutes, there is an Indian raid on the town. About 109 people were taken captive, and are forced to march on a long trek to Canada. During the march, Mercy learns more about the Indians, and the fact that she may be adopted by the Indians is always a possibility is on her mind. She gets used to living with the Indians, and when ransom comes for her to go back to Massachusetts, she chooses not to go.
A subplot of the story is the relationship between Eben Nims and Sarah Hoyt. Of course, they fall in love and get married and live happily ever after, but of course I wan to know more! Hopefully Mrs. Cooney will write a spin-off about these two. ;)
All in all, this was a pretty awesome book. Maybe this is a subconscious reason why I'm so interested in history. At any rate, I highly recommend this book who likes some good YA historical fiction. And this book is a pretty light read (only took me about 3 hours at most to read), so if you don't like long books this fine.
A subplot of the story is the relationship between Eben Nims and Sarah Hoyt. Of course, they fall in love and get married and live happily ever after, but of course I wan to know more! Hopefully Mrs. Cooney will write a spin-off about these two. ;)
All in all, this was a pretty awesome book. Maybe this is a subconscious reason why I'm so interested in history. At any rate, I highly recommend this book who likes some good YA historical fiction. And this book is a pretty light read (only took me about 3 hours at most to read), so if you don't like long books this fine.
rossakamcfreakyd's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoy historical fiction about kids who were taken from the frontier and esentially adopted into Native American tribes. This story was impressive because not only did the French and Indians take a large number of captives, they marched them 300 miles through the wilderness into Canada. I think this book would be good for both middle and upper grade readers who are interested in history and/or Native Americans.
elmeeks's review against another edition
3.0
***
This historical fiction novel makes the reader think about assimilation and family. Set in 1704 and based on true events this novel begins with the kidnapping of many of the residents of Deerfield, Massachusetts by a group of Native Americans who were aided by the French. Among those taken and not killed is Mercy Carter, an eleven year old girl. The story follows Mercy as she hike with her captors to Canada. Along the way Mercy is left to deal with her thoughts. Will she be ransomed? Will she ever get to see her family again? Or will she assimilate into the Native American culture and begin a new life.
Themes: family, survival, identity, culture, religion
Characters:
Mercy is an eleven year old girl who is taken by Native Americans. She is courageous and brave as she treks across the country in the cold.
John, Sam, Benny- These are Mercy’s brothers. The children are all kidnapped but are separated from each other on the trek to Canada.
Ruth is among the kidnapped children. She is very strong-willed and refuses to give in and conform to Native American ways.
Tannhahorens is Mercy's Indian Master. He and his wife consider Mercy their daughter.
Interesting information: There is an author’s note in the back of the book which tells you what happened to the real people this story is based on.
This historical fiction novel makes the reader think about assimilation and family. Set in 1704 and based on true events this novel begins with the kidnapping of many of the residents of Deerfield, Massachusetts by a group of Native Americans who were aided by the French. Among those taken and not killed is Mercy Carter, an eleven year old girl. The story follows Mercy as she hike with her captors to Canada. Along the way Mercy is left to deal with her thoughts. Will she be ransomed? Will she ever get to see her family again? Or will she assimilate into the Native American culture and begin a new life.
Themes: family, survival, identity, culture, religion
Characters:
Mercy is an eleven year old girl who is taken by Native Americans. She is courageous and brave as she treks across the country in the cold.
John, Sam, Benny- These are Mercy’s brothers. The children are all kidnapped but are separated from each other on the trek to Canada.
Ruth is among the kidnapped children. She is very strong-willed and refuses to give in and conform to Native American ways.
Tannhahorens is Mercy's Indian Master. He and his wife consider Mercy their daughter.
Interesting information: There is an author’s note in the back of the book which tells you what happened to the real people this story is based on.
nataliehong08's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tjlcody's review against another edition
3.0
This was definitely an interesting read.
Years ago I read the Dear America book that covered this topic (Standing in the Light), and so I already knew the general topic and direction the book was going in- namely, that the captive children would be assimilated into the tribe's culture and society and would not come home.
I will say, though, that if you have read that book and are coming to this one- this book is a much more mature take on the subject of captive children being assimilated into Native culture during the 18th century. With the Dear America counterpart, it was much more obvious as to why Catherine (the main character) is enjoying life with the Native Americans, and why their lifestyle and culture would have appealed towards Quaker/Puritan children (Catherine was Quaker, Mercy is Puritan).
This book goes a lot more deeply into the moral ambiguity and gray area surrounding the children's assimilation: and I don't know if that was the author's intention, or if it was just a byproduct of the fact that she based this off of actual historical events.
People are killed in this book. Parents, children, babies. At one point. In many ways, this book does a really good job of making you question why the children would make the decision to stay with people who literally murdered members of their families and communities, whilst still understanding why Mercy is finding herself at home with the Native family she comes to live with. While it's easy to understand why Mercy is adapting the way she is, the situation still has a sort of Stockholm Syndrome-y feel about it.
The thing I think I have to give the author kudos for is that she wrote a book that paints a much more nuanced, realistic, and (frankly) darker picture of a subject that, in my experience between reading on the subject and having learned about it in school, tends to get boiled down to "children taken by Native Americans during these raids often didn't want to come home because they liked it better there than back at their stuffy old Puritan homes".
Years ago I read the Dear America book that covered this topic (Standing in the Light), and so I already knew the general topic and direction the book was going in- namely, that the captive children would be assimilated into the tribe's culture and society and would not come home.
I will say, though, that if you have read that book and are coming to this one- this book is a much more mature take on the subject of captive children being assimilated into Native culture during the 18th century. With the Dear America counterpart, it was much more obvious as to why Catherine (the main character) is enjoying life with the Native Americans, and why their lifestyle and culture would have appealed towards Quaker/Puritan children (Catherine was Quaker, Mercy is Puritan).
This book goes a lot more deeply into the moral ambiguity and gray area surrounding the children's assimilation: and I don't know if that was the author's intention, or if it was just a byproduct of the fact that she based this off of actual historical events.
People are killed in this book. Parents, children, babies. At one point
Spoiler
Mercy's little sister is killed by the Native walking with them on the way to Canada because she was crying and fussing too muchThe thing I think I have to give the author kudos for is that she wrote a book that paints a much more nuanced, realistic, and (frankly) darker picture of a subject that, in my experience between reading on the subject and having learned about it in school, tends to get boiled down to "children taken by Native Americans during these raids often didn't want to come home because they liked it better there than back at their stuffy old Puritan homes".