Angel of Mercy (Mercy Trilogy)

I think that Angel of Mercy, is one if the best books Lurlene McDaniel has written. I have read many of her works and I loved most of them. This is a fiction book about a girl named Heather Barlow and how she goes to Africa to help the people there who are not as fortunate as she is. She just finished high school and now she wants to make herself useful and wants to make a difference in the world. While she is on her trip to Africa, she meets a guy named Ian McCollum who has already been on these types of trips. All her group members who are going to Africa with her have a different reason for going to aid those is need than she does. Heather is exposed to all the horrible things about sickness and poverty and she can t believe that while other lucky people live in happiness and in good health, others are dying and starving. During Heather s stay in Africa, Ian and Heather fall in love and plan to keep in touch when they have to part. Then, a terrible tragedy occurs and Heather finally realizes her purpose. She takes on a dangerous mission to go and save a young baby who is dying in Sudan. This book was written in 3rd person, which I think was a good idea so that the author could show the minds of more characters. There were two main conflicts in this book, which were person vs. herself and person vs. Fate (God). Heather struggles throughout the book about her reason for helping people and tries to relate to the others and why they came. Later on in the book, Heather is battling with an uncontrollable problem that concerns Ian. If I could rate this book from 1-10, 10 being the best, I would give this book a 9.5 because although I liked the topic and the story, I think that the author could ve written at a higher level and more descriptively. I thought that this was a very moving and touching book. It showed me how unfortunate some people are and how we take advantage of things that may seem to be nothing to us but to others can be called luxury. I now realize more how I am so fortunate not to be a person with no home or very little belongings. After reading this book, I want to help more and give when I get the chance to. I think that I could relate with the main character, Heather Barlow. When I was reading the book, there were many times where I thought in my own head, Oh, I think the same too. I also thought that it was very sorrowful when Ian passed away trying to save another person. I never expected Ian to die either because there was not mention of a tragedy in the summary.


Best Book Ever!   February 17, 2000
Lindsay (Rhode Island)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I got this book as a Christmas gift and I started reading it the second I got it. It took me an hour to finish! I was so involved in the book...I felt like I was on the cruise ship going through everything the characters were going through. I even cried at the end (I won't give the ending away though...but the ending is a tear jerker) I would recommend this book to anybody!


It was great!!!   October 17, 1999
Jennifer (New Hartford, NY)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

It was one of Lurlene McDaniels best books. I totally think that anyone who likes her books should read this one. It was very different from her other books, so it made extra special. It was about someone sick with a terrible diseaese, but someone helping the sick and poor of Uganda, Africa.


This is one of her best books yet!   November 12, 1999
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I love her books I have all but 5 and I plan to get them soon.It was really touching when Heather risked her like in order to help a baby.But this story is also sad! And it makes you think how lucky we are.


Lurlene is the best!   January 11, 2000
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

well i have read many of Lurlene's books and they were all good but this one is one of the best yet she really knows how to capture the feeling that she is creating for the readersand this one made me cry like only a few good books have and they were all her books, such as Don't Die, My Love(that was the first one i ever read) and Angels Watching Over Me and the two companion novels that follow that and i can't wait until the companion to this book comes out!