While at my local library I noticed another Avi book that I hadn't seen before. It looked like a quick read and I do love Avi so I decided to check it out.

A simple story, the setting is Oregon in 1855. "The Barn" comes to symbolize hope for Ben, a nine-year-old whose father has suffered a stroke that leaves him completely dependent on Ben and his older siblings;  brother Harrison and sister Nellie.

Unable to speak, Ben notices his father is trying to communicate by blinking his eyes. And in the young mind of a boy, Ben knows that if they just build the barn his father wanted to build, this will be the miracle cure that will bring his dad back to good health.

In the end, the gift Ben wanted to give his dad, the barn, turns out to be the gift his dad gives to Ben.

I rate The Barn 4 out of 5 stars. ****

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