{"product_id":"the-mercy-step-by-marcia-hutchinson","title":"The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"61\" data-end=\"233\"\u003eA sharply witty and deeply tender portrait of childhood, resilience, and quiet rebellion, \u003cem data-start=\"151\" data-end=\"190\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eThe Mercy Step\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e is a powerful story set in 1960s Bradford.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"235\" data-end=\"534\"\u003eMercy 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"536\" data-end=\"837\"\u003eAn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"839\" data-end=\"1023\"\u003eRaw, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1025\" data-end=\"1207\"\u003eShortlisted for the \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eWomen's Prize for Fiction 2026\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e and the \u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eBritish Book Awards Discover Prize\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, this is a remarkable novel that will stay with you long after the final page.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lost in the Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52893352427867,"sku":null,"price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0956\/5628\/0411\/files\/ChatGPTImageApr25_2026_10_17_47AM.png?v=1777459135","url":"https:\/\/lostinthereads.co.uk\/products\/the-mercy-step-by-marcia-hutchinson","provider":"Lost in the Reads","version":"1.0","type":"link"}