Angel of Mercy (Mercy Trilogy) [Hardcover]

Lurlene McDaniel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 1999 | Series: Mercy Trilogy

Heather Barlow has always been idealistic, and now that she has finished high school, she's ready to make a difference in the world. After graduation, she joins a mission group on a hospital mercy ship sailing to Africa. However, Heather is unprepared to face the disease, famine, and misery she encounters.

Ian McCollum is also among the medical staff in Uganda. Ian has left his native Scotland to help those threatened by a world of seeming indifference. When Heather meets Ian her heart races and she feels happy to be alive. But as the weeks pass, Heather finds her idealism vanishing; the refugee camps and orphanages are overcrowded, and misery is everywhere. Only Ian can see beyond the horror and help Heather understand that the world can be changed if people try to help those in need one by one.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-11-Heather Barlow, 18, is excited and nervous as the Anastasis, a hospital Mercy Ship leaves port. She knows that the months ahead will be unlike anything she has ever experienced. Volunteering with a mission group in Africa for several months is her attempt to make a difference in the world. What she doesn't anticipate is falling in love with Ian McCollum, an attractive medical intern and seminary student. In Uganda, Heather sees disease, death, and destruction ravaging the thousands who look to her team for help. Then Ian leaves to rescue a baby in Sudan, his plane goes down, and she must deal with his death and complete the rescue mission. The plot develops slowly but carefully, as do the characters. The author uses personal experiences to give a solid background and flavor to the story. While the book has a decidedly Christian slant, most readers will be caught up in the passion and sorrow of Heather's missionary experiences.
Jana R. Fine, Clearwater Public Library System, FL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

When Heather Barlow decides to board a hospital mercy ship to Africa after high school, she is filled with idealism and the desire to make a difference in the world. She's unprepared for what she discovers in Uganda--the disease, the famine, the misery. She meets Ian McCollum, a boy from Scotland, who is handsome, charming, deeply religious, and committed to helping others. It isn't long before the two fall in love. When Ian decides to take a dangerous excursion into a Sudanese refugee camp to rescue a dying baby, readers will know there's tear-jerking tragedy in store. The writing is sentimental, and Heather's learned self-reliance is not convincing. Still, there's a huge audience for McDaniel's romance fiction, and this one has all the features her readers look for. Who knows, maybe teens will even be inspired to find out more about mercy ships. Shelley Townsend-Hudson

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (October 12, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553571451
• ISBN-13: 978-0553571455
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,416,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lurlene McDaniel is known for her poignant inspirational novels. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was such a touching book~..., February 2, 2000

By 

Heesun L (Seoul, Korea) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angel of Mercy (Mercy Trilogy) (Hardcover)

Heesun L. C/D Book Report on Angel of Mercy

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book Ever!, February 17, 2000

By 

Lindsay (Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angel of Mercy (Mercy Trilogy) (Hardcover)

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!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of her best books yet!, November 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Angel of Mercy (Mercy Trilogy) (Hardcover)

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.