The Ransom of Mercy Carter by Caroline B. Cooney

Reviewed by Karen

Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings Explanation

Language: The word “Lord” is used frequently, but usually in a prayer for or plea for help from The Lord. “Hell” is used 3 times.

Violence: The Mohawk Indian raid is fairly intense. Most adults are killed, most in front of their children. One man is “hacked to death” and “chopped to pieces” in front of the English. Even after the initial raid for the first third of the book, captives who are lacking courage and unable to survive, are killed. The English men who attempt to rescue the captives (mostly children) are attacked and killed by the Indians. The captives are threatened to be burned at the stake if any escape attempts are made. When in Canada, captive young adult and adult males are forced to run through the Indian gauntlet where they are injured with whips and other weapons. Ruth tries to commit suicide. Scalping is common and a survivor is described.

Sexual Content: When Mercy is living with the Indians (who live openly and communally in long houses), she witnesses that “the married couples did not sleep, but did what married couples do. Right there in front of everybody, while fire lit the room.” Mercy tries to buy her passage on a French boat to escape the Indians. The sailors agree and clearly want Mercy on board for their sexual pleasure.

Adult Content: Mercy must emotionally deal with the trauma of watching her neighbors and family being slaughtered and then being kidnapped and forced to march to Canada. Fear abounds for the captives as the weak continue to be killed off on the journey. Hunger and hardship abound on their march. Adapting to a new life as an Indian at times proves difficult as Mercy struggles with her identity and with which culture she should adopt. The Indians smoke. The Indians are naked (or mostly naked) during the summer months.

Synopsis

Mercy Carter is an 11 yr. old English girl living in a puritan colony in Deerfield, Massachusetts. The Mohawk Indians attack her settlement, kill many and take the rest captive. Mercy’s life changes forever as she is forced on a 300 mile winter march to Canada and then begins her new life in an Indian family. Mercy struggles with her old and new identities and cultures. Her Indian family treats her well and she begins to adapt, but feels guilty at times when she enjoys her new life. If an opportunity to be ransomed home ever appears, Mercy wonders which life she will choose.

This historical fiction is based on actual events surrounding the French and Indian War in 1704. Indian raids were common amongst the outlying English settlements. The children were the greatest prize and were well cared for. They often adapted quickly to their new environment.

I have an 11-year-old daughter and I assumed when I started this book, that it would be one I would recommend to her. But because of the intensity of the violence, as well as the emotional trauma Mercy must deal with, I think she is too young. So, having the main character be so young is a little misleading, based on the young adult target audience. I think the book portrays a fairly realistic version of the events described. For the most part, it was an enjoyable read.