Hanley, Karen Strang. Review.School Library Journal 29,2 (October 1982): 60. In her review, Hanley remarks upon the in-depth research undertaken by the author in utilizing a primary, seventeenth-century source (Cotton Mather's work) and fictionalizing it into an intriguing, readable novel. By remaining true to the language and style of the period, which Hanley calls "eloquent and evocative," the reviewer deems this novel to be, despite its brevity, "historical fiction of the highest order."

Review. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 36,2 (January 1983): 87. Norma Farber, according to the review, has provided an insightful portrayal of Mercy's ambivalent feelings concerning the hate-love relationship toward her Indian captors. The author has ingeniously internalized Mercy's affective journey to self-identity while vividly depicting for the reader the dour and ritualistic theology of colonial Bostonians under the aegis of Cotton Mather.

Twichell, Ethel R. Review. Horn Book 58,6 (December 1982): 655656. Emphasizing Farber's skill in formulating character...