The Ransom Of Mercy Carter

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Barresi, Joseph L., Jermyn, Saturday, 9 am, Harrison Funeral Home, 374 N. Main St., Archbald. Mass, 9:30, Church of St. Thomas Aquinas, 411 Church St., Archbald. Interment, St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery, Archbald. Calling hours Saturday from 8 to 9.

BEDELL, MARY LUCILLE JOHNS, formerly of the western section of the Mountain Ransom Twp., Saturday, 11:30, Newington Memorial Funeral Home, Main Street, Newington, Connecticut Visitation, 10 to the service. Local arrangements: Solfanelli-Fiorillo Funeral Home Inc., 1030 N. Main Ave, Scranton .. Condolences: www.solfanellifiorillo funeralhome.com.

Boccador, Mary J., Tripp Park section of Scranton, Saturday, Carlucci-Golden Funeral Home-DeSantis, 318 E. Drinker St., Dunmore. Mass 10 am St. Lucy Church, Scranton. Burial, Cemetery Cathedral. Calling hours today from 5 to 8 pm Condolences: Dunmore funeralhome.com.

Burnett, Jane Abbott, Scott Twp., Saturday, 10 am, Frank T. Mazur Funeral Home Inc., 601 Dundaff St., Dickson City, by the Rev. Scott McGrady, pastor, Blakely Primitive Methodist Church. Interment, Dickson City Primitive Methodist Cemetery. Calling hours today from 5 to 8 pm Donations: local hospice. Condolences: mazurfuner alhome.com.

BURNS, THOMAS C., Pittston, today, Mass, at noon, St. John the Evangelist Church, Pittston. Interment, parish cemetery. Calling Hours 11 hours at Mass, church. Arrangements: Peter J. Adonizio Funeral Home in West Pittston. Condolences: peterjadoniziofuneral home.com.

CAWLEY, Patrick H., Scranton, Thursday, Mass, St. Paul Cross Parish at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church, the Reverend Father Paul McDonald. Carriers: Chief Jeffrey White, Fire Inspector James Lunney, Captain Robert Cetta, Lieutenant David Applegate, Driver Michael Stine, John Ruby driver, Pvt. Jack Snyder and Pvt. Joseph Ruddy, all firefighters in Scranton.Interment, Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Cemetery,

CHASE, Pauline, Hawley, today, Mass 10 am St. Mary Magdalen Church, Honesdale. Cremation, Maple Hill at Salem Crematory. Arrangements: Hessling Funeral Home Inc., 428 Main St., Honesdale. Condolences: www.hesslingfuneral home.com.

Gardier, Chris C. JR., Dunmore, Mass, today, at 11 am, St. Mary of Mount Caramel Church, 322 Chestnut Street, Dunmore, by Monsignor Michael Delaney. Go directly to the church. Arrangements: Vanston and James Funeral Home, 1401 Ash Street, Scranton. Interment, Dunmore Cemetery. Commemorative Commonwealth Medical College, Chris C. Gardier Fund, Attn.Development Office, 525 Pine Street, Scranton, PA 18509, Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509;. Or charity of your choice.

The Ransom of Mercy Carter by Caroline B. Cooney Content Rating ...

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.

The Ransom of Mercy Carter

Something about the Author

Caroline Cooney, faith and fiction

American Indian themes in young adult literature

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