Books Like The Barn
Families who loved The Barn by Avi 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 The Barn by Avi 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 facing the terminal illness or loss of a parent and needs a way to channel their feelings into meaningful action. It is a quiet, profound story set in the 1840s that follows nine-year-old Ben as he returns from school to care for his father, who has suffered a debilitating stroke. To honor their father's unfulfilled dream, Ben and his older siblings decide to build a massive barn by hand. This story is an excellent choice for children ages 8 to 12 because it acknowledges the weight of grief without being sentimental. It models how teamwork, hard work, and a shared goal can provide a scaffold for a family when their world feels like it is collapsing. It provides a realistic yet comforting look at the physical and emotional realities of long-term illness and the resilience found in sibling bonds.
