Mercy Clifton: Pilgrim Girl

Crimson Cross #2

by Peter J. Marshall, David Manuel

Sixteen-year-old Mercy Clifton experiences a difficult journey with her parents on the Mayflower, but her greatest challenge comes when she and her Indian friend Amie make an ominous discovery about young rebels in the colony and the Native Americans.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, Adventure

194 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

About the author

The Rev. Peter John Marshall was the son of Rev. Peter and Catherine Marshall. He often wrote as Peter Marshall.

From 1977 until his death, he had devoted himself to a nationwide ministry of preaching, teaching and writing.

Reviews

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written historical fiction book. The story revolves around a young teenage girl who crosses on the Mayflower and her adventures. The book gives a good idea of conditions and such of the period as well as events that happened to the early pilgrims. I didn't find it as engaging as Nate Donovan: Revolutionary Spy, part of this same series, but it is worth a read.

[Samantha Bartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book! I think it’s something I would have loved when I was younger. It follows a fictional girl and her life abroad the Mayflower and then in America leading up to the first Thanksgiving. I liked how the rest of the characters were all real people. I enjoyed seeing characters like Miles Standish, Pricilla Mullins and William Bradford from a personal point of view. At times the book dragged a bit, but I appreciate the author and his willingness to not be too light on the death and violence. If it’s supposed to be accurate, I felt this book did a good job of portraying the good and the bad that happened at Plymouth. It may be a children’s book, but that doesn’t mean the bad should be cut entirely.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second book in the Crimson Cross series. I'm bummed my library doesn't have the third book. I thought that "Mercy Clifton" was less objectionable for young readers than "Nate Donovan." I would almost consider letting my second grader listen to this one, but the love interest plot would probably not go over well with him. I will stand by my earlier assessment of this series and say that it's best left to teens.