Nina Hart Book order

The narrative centers on Lark, a runaway slave girl who embarks on a perilous journey in search of safety after enduring profound loss. Guided by the spirits of her loved ones, she finds refuge in Twelve Forties, a unique community where former slaves and slave owners coexist as equals. Under the mentorship of Eliza, a respected elder, Lark learns healing arts, fostering her sense of belonging. As slavery ends, the community evolves into New Hope, symbolizing resilience and the pursuit of a brighter future despite their troubled past.

Exploring societal taboos through humor and surrealism, the narrative features a five-year-old named Bonanza who engages in unconventional play, burying dolls and herself. The reimagined presence of poet Robert Lowell as a high school student and the protagonist's role at a Butterfly Farm highlight themes of environmental justice. With an improvisational style, characters intertwine in dreamlike stories that challenge conventional narrative structures, addressing dark topics like ecology, education, and animal rights while maintaining a vulnerable and comedic tone.