Mercy: The Incredible Story of Henry Bergh, Founder of the ASPCA and Friend to Animals

by Nancy Furstinger

Vincent Desjardins (Illustrator)

Only 150 years ago, most animals in America were subject to horrific treatment. They needed a champion to protect them from abject cruelty, and that person was Henry Bergh. After witnessing the beating of a horse in the streets of New York and attending a bullfight in Spain, Bergh found his calling.

• ISBN13: 9780544650312
• Publish Date: 5 April 2016
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Houghton Mifflin
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 192
• Language: English

Reviews

[Beth C.]

As someone who currently has 3 rescued cats and 2 rescued dogs, the topic of Henry Bergh and the start of the ASPCA was certainly one I was interested in. Knowing that animal rescue was not always appreciated in the past, I was curious as to how this long-lasting institution got its start. And while the book definitely covers this, it does so in a very uneven fashion.

First, the book is designated for grades 3-5. I think 3rd grade might be on the lower end of the spectrum for a couple of reasons. First, the author seems to forget what audience she is writing for, using words that would stump some adults, let alone 3rd graders. Second, the when writing about the animal cruelty prevalent during Bergh's time, the author tends to err on the "too much information" side. Often, the descriptions are overdone and gory, particularly for that age group. As a parent or a teacher, I would definitely suggest that this book be reviewed before using as part of a curriculum or read-aloud in class, or even just handed off to the young animal lover in the home.

The artwork in the book didn't seem to mesh with the topic. It would have been much better served had it had more actual photographs, particularly with the emphasis on history throughout the story itself. The cartoonish nature of the artwork seemed only to emphasize the cruelty portrayed, rather than just demonstrating it.

The "informative sidebars" were definitely informative, and quite often interesting, however they were also a major distraction from the story itself. It's sort of like they were just popped in there to kind of take up space and because the author had so much information and couldn't bear to leave any of it out.

However, having said all of that - the story of Bergh itself is quite a fascinating one, particularly in light of the fact that his ASPCA still thrives today and is still working on the mission that he originally founded it with. He certainly was a forward-looking man, though an odd one, who valued compassion and believed that all creatures deserved to be treated with respect.

An interesting book, though with some distinct flaws that take away from the overall success of the story.