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Midwest Book Awards Finalist
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“If you are a book lover, you will love this book!” — Faith Sullivan, author of The Cape Ann and Good Night Mr. Wodehouse
Could the woman who struggles to read be the only one who can save the town’s books?
Antigone Brown has enough on her plate. Between managing a quirky deer farm in Mercy, North Carolina, and dealing with the anxieties of an upcoming pregnancy, she doesn’t need any more drama. Because of her dyslexia, books have always been a source of personal misery. She is the absolute last person who wants to get caught up in a local culture war.
But when a powerful group of small-town bullies known as the Mercy Study Club starts quietly purging “undesirable” books from the school library shelves, Antigone faces an impossible choice.
To stand up for what is right, she must protect the very things she has struggled her whole life to comprehend.
Joined by a colorful cast of misfits—including her supportive husband Sam, a broken-hearted runaway kid from New York named Ryder, and an eccentric former ACLU lawyer named Earthly—Antigone finds herself at the center of a chaotic battle for intellectual freedom.
Witty, heartfelt, and deeply relevant, Book of Mercy explores the absurdities of censorship and the unexpected courage found in ordinary people.
Why Readers Love Book of Mercy:
- A Dyslexic Heroine: A refreshing, deeply relatable protagonist who proves that bravery doesn’t require a perfect reading level.
- Timely & Relevant Themes: A nuanced, balanced, and humorous exploration of book banning and small-town politics.
- Unforgettable Characters: A quirky, heartwarming community of outcasts you will root for until the final page.
- Award-Winning Fiction: Named a Midwest Book Awards Finalist
- Made for Book Clubs: This book—and the topic of book banning—will get your book club talking.
“It’s going to make you think. And laugh. And get angry. And maybe even cry a little. . . . As funny as parts of the book are (my personal favorite scene involves a dreadful waste of a banana cream pie), it did send a shiver down my spine on more than one occasion at the thought of some of the best books I’ve ever read not being easily available. . . . The beauty of this book is that, although Roberts is tackling such a serious subject, she does so subtly.” — ForBooksSake.com
Get your copy today. Available in paperback and ebook.
More Reviews
“The book takes more than a cursory look at book banning and presents compelling characters with arguments on both sides of the issue. . . . The issues surrounding censorship have been around for decades, and the glimpse into the individual motivations and group dynamics of people we can all identify with brings a richness to the story. The characters in Mercy are lively and fun to follow.” — BookPleasures.com
“Book of Mercy is a truly beautiful, heart-warming novel on book censorship, the nature of love, motherhood and friendship. I loved this book from the first page to the end, which had me in tears of joy . . . The ending is perfect and the writing exquisite.”—Tahlia Newland, author
Antigone Brown is “a quirky, smart, loveable everywoman that readers can’t help rooting for.” — BlogCritics.com
“This book has fun characters, a good plot line and it moves at a pretty snappy pace. Overall, it was an incredibly enjoyable read . . . had me enthralled until the very last page. It was a great escape into a good story which is ultimately what reading should be all about.” — Insert Suitably Snappy Title Here
“There was nothing about this book that I did not enjoy. . . . Overall, I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books that tackle serious issues while still being lighthearted and an easy read.” — Reading Is My Cheap Addiction
“Warning: once you start you will not be able to put it down until you have read the very last word. It’s a book that will stay with you long after you have finished it. It’s a very heart-warming, beautiful, touch your heart novel. It is about censorship, power and control, but also love, friendship and motherhood.” — Purple Jelly Bean Chair Reviews
“There’s nothing funny about censorship, but Roberts weaves a touching/humorous tale about Antigone Brown, a likable protagonist who takes on a group of powerful women—the Mercy Study Club— who want to ban books from the school library. . . . Although this isn’t being marketed as a young-adult book, teens would enjoy it.” — Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN
“Everyone who cares about books should read Book of Mercy. And especially, read it if you like your books to be engaging, fun, and of literary merit. Sherry Roberts makes you care deeply about a wide range of characters, while reinforcing an important literary message. From a tiny town in the south, to the dark alley where trouble lurks, to the mean streets of New York City, the characters and personalities in Book of Mercy run the gamut of human experience. I was sorry to see the book end. I loved every minute of it!” — Lois West Duffy, author of Zillah’s Gift
“It’s a serious topic—book banning—but handled in a responsible, fun way with quirky characters, and so-real dialogue. Author Sherry Roberts manages to fit marriage, pregnancy, binge driving, hubcap sculpture, homelessness, vegetarianism, and ESP into this homespun tale with characters that keep coming to mind long after the last page has been read. Librarians will cheer for the plucky heroine, Antigone Brown who stands up to the town bullies with the help of her oddly talented friends. Well-researched, well-written, a delightful read!” — A Virginia librarian
“Sherry Roberts weaves an interesting story that immerses readers in the lives of the characters. . . Book of Mercy manages to entertain and delight the reader.” — FictionAddict
