A sharply witty and deeply tender portrait of childhood, resilience, and quiet rebellion, The Mercy Step is a powerful story set in 1960s Bradford.

Mercy is a precocious young girl growing up in a crowded household shaped by the realities of the Windrush generation. With a mother pulled between faith and family, and a father whose temper looms large, Mercy learns early how to navigate a world that often feels too heavy for her small shoulders.

An outsider even within her own home, she finds solace in books and in the company of her cherished doll, Dolly. But beneath her quiet exterior lies a fierce imagination and an unbreakable spirit. With humour, style, and determination, Mercy begins to dream of a different life and to plan her escape.

Raw, moving, and quietly defiant, this unforgettable debut explores the complexities of Black British childhood, family, and survival, shining a light on stories too often left untold.

Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2026 and the British Book Awards Discover Prize, this is a remarkable novel that will stay with you long after the final page.