Small Mercies by Bridget Krone

Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

This book grabbed my attention because of the sweet title and the blend of multi-racial images on the cover. I was further intrigued  when I read it was based in South Africa.

Having grown up in a stable home, I appreciated how this book gave me new insights into the struggles of an 11-year-old orphan girl in the foster care system. The author helps reveal how and why she behaved in ways that otherwise might have confounded me and others around her.  She was carrying burdens I never dealt with at age 11.  The heartwarming ending displays kids showing agency and unity fighting for justice.

Here are the issues for you to consider:

• Bullying. There are school bullies who although not physically abusive say and do horrid things to other kids.  Also, outside of school, there are adults who bully poor families.
• Death, fear, and abuse.  The main character occasionally reflects on her mother’s death, moments of fear that she has related to her early life, and there are suggestions of abuse in those memories.
• Hinduism and Paganism. Two of the minor heroes in the book are immensely kind and generous, and they share about their faith in other gods. Their kind characters and accurate, mystic insights are admittedly a strong sell for these other faiths.   Ghandi’s life is also upheld as a model.
• Poor representation of Christian prayer. In a moment of desparation, the main character turns to prayer: “our father…” but she forgets the rest & concludes what she really needs is a miracle. Prayer is not represented as very powerful whatsoever.
• Unwholesome teenage pop culture.  At one point music plays the song lyrics, “Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me….” And other mentions of things like model wearing “Victoria Secret’s fantasy bra” covered in gems.
• Poor/disrespectful behavior in school; some kids are not cooperative or kind.
• Sometimes the South African slang is strong or aspects of the culture may be tough to understand.
• Occasional cuss words, some South African (e.g. kak)

If your kid can handle these issues, then I think this book could grow their empathy for all that may be going on in some of their peers’ lives. 

Mr. Singh tells Mercy about Ganesh, God of new beginnings who he honors as part of doing pratna.