The Mercy Step (shortlisted For The Women's Prize For Fiction 2026)

By (author) Hutchinson Marcia
Short description/annotation:
A lyrical and deeply affecting novel of childhood survival, resilience and self-invention in 1960s Britain.
Description:

A sharply-witted and tender portrait of a young girl''s quiet rebellion and her refusal to be broken.

 Shortlisted for the Women''s Prize for Fiction 2026

Shortlisted for the British Book Award - Discover Prize

''Dark, humorous, and passionately captures the unique realities of the northern Black experience'' — The Observer

Set in 1960s Bradford, The Mercy Step follows Mercy, a precocious young child facing a world far too big for her small body. She lives with her Windrush-generation parents in a crowded household where her mother''s attention is stretched between church and family, and her father''s temper is something to be endured or avoided.

Feeling like an outsider within her own home, Mercy retreats into books and the companionship of her beloved doll, Dolly, while learning early how to navigate the flaws and failings of the adults around her. Yet Mercy is nothing if not resilient. Armed with humour, style and fierce imagination, she quietly begins to plot her escape from a traumatic childhood.

Raw and deeply affecting, Mercy''s story is one of Black British culture, childhood, family and survival in 1960s Britain. Critical to understanding these untold stories, Marcia''s debut is not to be missed.

Review quote:

''Dark, humorous, and passionately captures the unique realities of the northern Black experience'' - The Observer

''Heart-wrenching, deeply authentic, moving, a real tear-jerker... A stunning novel that everyone should read'' - Nussaibah Younis, Women''s Prize-shortlisted author of Fundamentally

''I laughed, I cried. Mercy''s voice will stay with me for a very long time'' - Roisin O''Donnell, Women''s Prize-longlisted author of Nesting

''A moving, funny and perfectly-observed slice of Black British life [...] has all the hallmarks of a modern classic'' - Paterson Joseph, author and actor

''A mesmerising debut - intimate, poetic and unforgettable. Marcia''s honesty and storytelling left me spellbound'' - Peter Kalu, novelist, playwright and poet

''A brilliant debut. Both deeply touching and haunting, with a compelling child protagonist that''s impossible to look away from'' - Irenosen Okojie, author of Nudibranch

''A diamond-hard empathy illuminates every page of this wonderful book. Prepare to give your heart to Mercy. It could not be in safer hands'' - Russ Litten, author of Scream If You Want To Go Faster

''Heartbreaking and beautiful and funny at the same time. It''s a powerful and important story by a hugely talented writer'' - Diana Anyakwo, author of My Life as a Chamaeleon

''Illuminating the experience of the Windrush generation, this is important and beautifully written work'' - Olumide Popoola, author of Like Water Like Sea

Biographical note:
Marcia Hutchinson was born to Windrush generation Jamaican parents in the UK in 1962. She was the first pupil from her comprehensive school to go to Oxford, where she gained an MA in Law. She worked as a lawyer before founding the educational publishing company Primary Colours, which she ran until 2014. She was awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to Cultural Diversity. Moving to Manchester in 2012, she became a community activist and was elected as a Labour Councillor in 2021. She is now a full-time writer and an active member of the Black Writers’ Guild. Her solo debut novel, The Mercy Step was shortlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction and shortlisted for the 2026 Discover Prize by The British Book Awards.