Harking

by George Mercer

After her parents’ divorce and the discovery of a series of cryptic notes left behind after her father is killed in an avalanche, Harking Thompson struggles to come to her own understanding of love, loss and what really matters. Caught up in a battle to save a mother grizzly bear and her cubs, Harking’s fight to protect the wildlife and wild places she loves teaches her a brutal truth: sometimes saving a life might mean losing another you love even more.

Genres: Fiction

282 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Award-winning author of Dyed In The Green, the first fiction series about Canada’s iconic national parks, George Mercer worked for more than three decades as a national park warden in Canada, including both east and west coasts, the North and the Rocky Mountains. Fat Cats, Book 4 in the series was a Gold Medal winner in the 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards while the series won a Silver Medal for overall fiction series. Wood Buffalo, the second book in the series, and Jasper Wild, book 3 in the series, were Gold Medal winners at the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Harking is George's first book outside of the Dyed In The Green series and his first work of Young Adult fiction. It was long-listed for the 2020 Shelf Unbound Indie Book Awards and won a Gold Medal in the 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this. The setting is fantastic and the plot is good but it is twice as long as it needs to be. The story drags. A good editor could have made this a great book.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy nature novels, you will absolutely love this book! The detailed descriptions of the forest and the wildlife are captivating without pulling the reader's attention away from the overall narrative. In the first few lines alone it is abundantly clear that Mercer is an expert in all things outdoors. The mix of perspectives, bouncing between Harking and the grizzly sow provides an interesting and unique depth to the story which allows the reader to develop a love for the bears alongside Harking. I know that I, for one, became quite emotionally attached to them and deeply invested in their lives. While the characters may seem a bit juvenile and overly impulsive at times, it serves the book well and acts as a kind of reminder that despite the maturity and independence of the kids, they are still just kids trying to make the best of some not so great situations. Overall, I think that this book is incredibly well written and would make a great addition to any young adult's library!

As this is the first book that I have read by this author, I am beyond excited to check out his previous series, Dyed In Green, and will be waiting eagerly to see what else Mercer has to offer!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read that will transport you to the beauty of one of Canada's treasures - Jasper National Park. Mercer paints a vivid picture of the landscape, wildlife, and characters in this coming of age tale. I personally love the chapters that give you a peak into life from the bears' perspective, staying true to their nature and not anthropomorphizing their motives. "Harking" compels the reader to consider their personal effect on nature and wildlife, not only when visiting parks, but in everyday life.

[Joanna Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The main character, Harking, is a strong young woman who has great passion for the animals in the park and does whatever she can to help them. It was interesting to read just how much humans impact animals in the wild. You also learn her story and how she is dealing with the aftermath of her father’s death. I found this book to be a page turner. The author does a great job of creating suspenseful moments that make you want to keep reading.

[Kim Cheeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. It reminded me of many wonderful childhood memories of growing up in a national park. This would make an excellent addition to high school curriculum as it not only explores the need to be conservation minded and why but works through the common emotions and struggles associated with loss through the eyes of a young adult. Excellent read! Great work!

[Janet Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, with a strong sense of place, characters and drive. It will transport you to the trail so you can clearly envision the wildlife using them. There are great take home messages in this tale which we could all benefit from.

[MLD · Rating 4 out of 5]

In all fairness YA novels are not my normal genre but as someone who sells books I think this would be a great novel for young adults. Learning about the movement of wildlife in national parks and some of the challenges that occur in communities like Jasper are a few of the topics that are covered. I love the remote camera idea for watching wildlife, I just wish the kids would’ve stayed out of the trails knowing full well the danger of bears (with cubs). I never thought about the amount of wildlife killed As a result of trains. It was a fast read and I will be sure to recommend at my bookstore. (Gold Rush Bookstore Rossland, BC)

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I'm a professional in the field so perhaps I found the YA audience a bit preachy for me. That said, it didn't really do the beauty of Jasper justice for how he assumes you know the places. It was hard for even me to picture, a seasoned veteran of the area. All that aside, fun story and I do enjoy his books as simple as they may be.