This Is It, Lark Harnish

by Laura Best

Lark Harnish, plucky and chatty and full of hope, is starting a new life. It’s 1919 in rural Nova Scotia and at just thirteen years old, she has to leave her mother and siblings to go work at the McMasters house. Her father has died and her family desperately needs the money. 
She arrives expecting another version of her own family—bruised and saddened by the loss of a parent, but still full of love and laughter and stories. Instead she finds a family in tatters, with devastated adults raising sad and lonely children. When Lark barrels in with her big personality, she disturbs a long-held silence in the McMasters house. The well-being of Lark’s family is on the line, and so are the hearts of the McMasters. Can Lark find her way in this new life, or are two families about to fall apart? 
In her newest historical middle-grade novel, celebrated author Laura Best brings another delightful group of characters to her readers, along with all the complexity of families finding hope in hard times.

184 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Lyn Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is brave, Lark Harnish, small for your thirteen years, leaving your family to become a hired girl in a large, unhappy house so you can help your own family with an out-of-control grocery debt. This is almost heroic, Lark Harnish, to retain your spirited personality and remain undaunted as you face stern Mrs. McMaster, silent Mr. McMaster, and their three children, the oldest of whom--younger than you--thinks you are beneath her. How strong you were during those first difficult three weeks with the family, worrying about being let go because of your clumsiness and inability to contain your verbosity and indomitable enthusiasm for life. The reader expects from the beginning your energy and warm generosity will win the respect, and even the hearts, of the whole family, but what a delightful tale it is, following your journey as you do so.

This historical middle-grade novel will easily carry readers of any age along to the end of the book, eager to follow one determined child as she meets and overcomes a series of mishaps and challenges. Brava, Lark Harnish and Laura Best.

[Sue Slade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 1919 rural Nova Scotia ‘This is it, Lark Harnish’ was a fun middle-grade novel. Lark who is a very chatty 13-year-old, reminds me of the famous Anne with an ‘e’, and should Anne’s circumstances have been different, she could have been Lark. After her Father passes away Lark goes to work for Mrs. McMaster to help pay down the grocery bills. Mrs. McMaster runs the local post office out of her home and looks after her Grandchildren, her daughter-in-law passed when her youngest grandson was born. Mrs. McMaster reminds me of Marilla in the Green Gables stories, very stern, rigid, and unsmiling at the beginning of the story. She even has the nosy and gossipy neighbour. I enjoyed the historical facts woven within the story. Lark had 3 dresses made from flour sacks, water needed to brought in, and laundry day was a large production. People, young and old, who love historical fiction and the Anne of Green Gables series, in particular, will enjoy ‘This is it, Lark Harnish’.

[Deborah Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this middle grade historical fiction book, This is It, LARK HARNISH. The main character, Lark, is a very likeable character. Even though she and her family have experienced the tragic loss of her father to the Spanish Flu in 1919, she still maintains a brave and positive disposition. In those times, a plucky, chatty, positive young woman is often “frowned upon” by adults. Especially those adults who deem themselves to be of a “higher class” than the family she comes from. She is determined to help her mother pay off a bill owing at the grocer’s store, and help keep her family “above water” financially. Similar to the Anne of Green Gables character, her difficulty in not providing an opinion or a solution for the adults in the home she goes to work for, often gets her into some tricky situations. She is determined to keep going to help the broken family she works for begin to heal, while helping her own broken family survive. She preserves even when serious difficulties arise, and keeps on going. The other characters in the book are quite believable and truly support the main storyline of this book. Highly enjoyable read. Would recommend for readers of all ages.

[Donna Alward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, fun middle grade story for fans of Anne of Green Gables.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. Lark has gone to work to help out her family with some badly needed income. But will Mrs McMaster be satisfied after Lark’s trial period?

Thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it for anyone who enjoyed Anne of Green Gables

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book for the 2023 52bookclub reading challenge, prompt "Published in 2023."

review to come

[Kay S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was boring. I've not been fond of Best's work the last two years. I found this one overly explanitory (we learn, in detail how LArk's father dies twice) and extremely stereotypical of an old world novel. Poor girl gets hired to do housework in a rich house where everyone is mean but she melts their hearts with her country cheer! Age her up ten years and this would've turned into a historical bonnet ripper where she marries the wealthy landowner and becomes the kids' stepmother.

[Elizabeth Hersey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is it, Lark Harnish is a very sweet read. Set in 1919 Nova Scotia, it was interesting to learn what life was like and how you had to grow up fast and work hard. Lark is a lovable character. A great middle-grade novel.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a darling little tale.

[Lori Emilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of Anne of Green Gables a bit. Lark is plucky and chatty, and set on winning the hearts of the family she is sent to work for. Sweet MG story.