Books Like Lara and the Gray Mare
Families who loved Lara and the Gray Mare by Kathleen Duey often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Lara and the Gray Mare by Kathleen Duey often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the weight of new responsibilities or the absence of a caregiver. Set in 11th-century Ireland, Lara and the Gray Mare follows a nine-year-old girl who must step up to help her family survive while her father is away at war. It is an ideal choice for children who are experiencing a parent's deployment or a similar temporary family separation, as it validates feelings of worry while celebrating personal agency. The story weaves together the practicalities of medieval farm life with the tender, high-stakes bond between Lara and a pregnant horse. Through Lara's hard work and dedication, the book explores themes of resilience, empathy, and the quiet bravery found in daily chores. It is a gentle yet realistic historical fiction perfectly suited for readers aged 8 to 12 who love animals and stories of self-reliance.
