Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Barn/Avi/e/9780380725625/?itm=1, accessed November 10, 2008.
Bibliography
Avi. 1994. THE BARN. New York, NY: Avon Books. ISBN 0380725622
Plot Summary
Avi has written a touching historical novel set in the spring of 1855, in the Willamette Valley, Oregon Territory. Nine-year-old Benjamin has been called home from boarding school by his sister, after their father has taken ill. In the story we meet Nettie, the oldest and the only girl in the family, Harrison, thirteen and the strongest of the three, and Ben, nine, who has gone to Portland to attend school because he is extremely bright. Their mother died of diphtheria a year before and now their father has been struck by palsy. In an effort to save their father, the three siblings set out to fulfill their fathers dying wish, building a barn on their Oregon farm.
Critical Analysis
In this well written piece of historical fiction, Avi shows his readers how complicated things can become for families long ago when tragedy struck. The story is told through the eyes of Ben, the youngest in the family. Ben, who has shown great promise as a scholar, has returned home from boarding school in Portland, where he was sent to live in order to fulfill his mother’s last wish.
Through the story, the author does a superb job of introducing its readers to just how difficult life could be for immigrants who settled in the ample, fertile farmland of the Willamette Valley. Ben has lost his mother to diphtheria, and a brother on the hard journey to get to this valley. The land is fertile, but hard to manage with few people and animals to do the work. There are days of endless rains that threaten the crops and the animals that they do have. The details of the house in which they live will leave the students with a real sense of what it would be like to live in a place with no real floors or walls, where the water leaks in when it rains, and where your mattress is made of hay covered with cloth.
The characters in the story seem real and will be easy for students to relate to. The concept of living on a farm is something that most children have heard about beginning in preschool. With their father lying ill, readers will root for the three siblings to get the barn built in an effort to save their fathers life and will revel in the details of what a painstaking process it was. The story would be a great read-aloud. It is short and easy to understand so that stopping for discussion throughout the reading will not confuse listeners. It would also be a good choice for older students who may not be strong readers.
Avi. 1994. THE BARN. New York, NY: Avon Books. ISBN 0380725622
Plot Summary
Avi has written a touching historical novel set in the spring of 1855, in the Willamette Valley, Oregon Territory. Nine-year-old Benjamin has been called home from boarding school by his sister, after their father has taken ill. In the story we meet Nettie, the oldest and the only girl in the family, Harrison, thirteen and the strongest of the three, and Ben, nine, who has gone to Portland to attend school because he is extremely bright. Their mother died of diphtheria a year before and now their father has been struck by palsy. In an effort to save their father, the three siblings set out to fulfill their fathers dying wish, building a barn on their Oregon farm.
Critical Analysis
In this well written piece of historical fiction, Avi shows his readers how complicated things can become for families long ago when tragedy struck. The story is told through the eyes of Ben, the youngest in the family. Ben, who has shown great promise as a scholar, has returned home from boarding school in Portland, where he was sent to live in order to fulfill his mother’s last wish.
Through the story, the author does a superb job of introducing its readers to just how difficult life could be for immigrants who settled in the ample, fertile farmland of the Willamette Valley. Ben has lost his mother to diphtheria, and a brother on the hard journey to get to this valley. The land is fertile, but hard to manage with few people and animals to do the work. There are days of endless rains that threaten the crops and the animals that they do have. The details of the house in which they live will leave the students with a real sense of what it would be like to live in a place with no real floors or walls, where the water leaks in when it rains, and where your mattress is made of hay covered with cloth.
The characters in the story seem real and will be easy for students to relate to. The concept of living on a farm is something that most children have heard about beginning in preschool. With their father lying ill, readers will root for the three siblings to get the barn built in an effort to save their fathers life and will revel in the details of what a painstaking process it was. The story would be a great read-aloud. It is short and easy to understand so that stopping for discussion throughout the reading will not confuse listeners. It would also be a good choice for older students who may not be strong readers.
The last chapter of the book gives us insight into what becomes of Ben. He writes: "It is alomost seventy years since that time. But every morning when I get up, the first thing I do is look at the barn. Like father promised: it's something fine to come home to. Still standing. Still Strong." Though not as long as some of Avi’s other novels, this piece of literature proves to be a thought-provoking, engaging piece of historical fiction.
Review Excerpt(s)
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Easily read in one sitting, this unembellished story proves to be as intimate as a diary, gracefully revealing its protagonist's keen intelligence, strong determination and secret fear of being separated from his loved ones.”
CHILDREN”S LITERATURE: “Avi shows how complicated family love can become when tragedy strikes. Ben, the hero, an extraordinary nine year old is sent from his 1855 farm to be educated so that he can fulfill the great promise his family sees in him.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The family relationships are well drawn, as the siblings react to each situation in their own way, though Benjamin's obsession with curing his father makes him a hard character to empathize with at times. Ultimately, the boy is forced to question his own additional motives for building the barn. While focusing mainly on his characters, Avi presents a vivid picture of the time and place, including fairly involved details about how the barn is constructed.”
Connections
This novel would be a great way to introduce students to the hardships of pioneer life in the 1800’s. Students could discover everything from how buildings were built to what the settlers ate and how they kept clean during this time in history.
Other books on life in the 1800’s:
Brink, Carol Ryrie. CADDIE WOODLAWN. ISBN 0689815212
Frazier, Neta Lohnes. THE STOUT-HEARTED SEVEN: ORPHANED ON THE OREGON TRAIL. ISBN 1402736177
Speare, Elizabeth George. SIGN OF THE BEAVER. ISBN 0440479002Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House on the Prairie (Little House Series). ISBN 0060581816
Review Excerpt(s)
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Easily read in one sitting, this unembellished story proves to be as intimate as a diary, gracefully revealing its protagonist's keen intelligence, strong determination and secret fear of being separated from his loved ones.”
CHILDREN”S LITERATURE: “Avi shows how complicated family love can become when tragedy strikes. Ben, the hero, an extraordinary nine year old is sent from his 1855 farm to be educated so that he can fulfill the great promise his family sees in him.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The family relationships are well drawn, as the siblings react to each situation in their own way, though Benjamin's obsession with curing his father makes him a hard character to empathize with at times. Ultimately, the boy is forced to question his own additional motives for building the barn. While focusing mainly on his characters, Avi presents a vivid picture of the time and place, including fairly involved details about how the barn is constructed.”
Connections
This novel would be a great way to introduce students to the hardships of pioneer life in the 1800’s. Students could discover everything from how buildings were built to what the settlers ate and how they kept clean during this time in history.
Other books on life in the 1800’s:
Brink, Carol Ryrie. CADDIE WOODLAWN. ISBN 0689815212
Frazier, Neta Lohnes. THE STOUT-HEARTED SEVEN: ORPHANED ON THE OREGON TRAIL. ISBN 1402736177
Speare, Elizabeth George. SIGN OF THE BEAVER. ISBN 0440479002Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House on the Prairie (Little House Series). ISBN 0060581816
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