Shades of Mercy

Title: SHADES OF MERCY

Authors: Anita Lustrea and Caryn Rivadeneira

Publisher: River North

September 2013

ISBN: 978-0-8024-0968-3

Genre: Historical

Someday was a word Mercy Miller held tight to.

It's 1954 and the world-even the far Northwoods of Maine-is about to change. But that change can't happen soon enough for fourteen-year-old Mercy Millar. Long tired of being the "son" her father never had, Mercy's ready for the world to embrace her as the young woman she is-as well as embrace the forbidden love she feels.

 When childhood playmates grow up and fall in love, the whole community celebrates. But in the case of Mercy and Mick, there would be no celebration. Instead their relationship must stay hidden. Good girls do not date young men from the Maliseet tribe. At least, not in Watsonville, Maine.

When racial tensions escalate and Mick is thrown in jail under suspicion of murder, Mercy nearly loses all hope-in love, in her father, and in God himself.

SHADES OF MERCY is the first book I’ve read by this writing team. The writing style is descriptive, drawing the reader into the setting. One could almost smell the dump that Mick and his kin live in, set among the beauty of Maine’s North Woods. My heart hurt for the young adults in a relationship forbidden due to racism.

 The story is rather slow… and easily put down. I didn’t engage with the characters as much as I would have liked to, but it is a good book and excellent for young adults to read as it deals with racism. And that is still somewhat a problem. While people may not blink twice to see whites marry blacks or Hispanics or other races anymore, in some areas there is more… stigma… than other if you are a certain nationality. Good lessons. $14.99. 288 pages. 3.5 stars.