I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed this magical book that was mostly set in the real world with a fun magical element. This book also had a super fast pace lot and I really liked how this book handled topics like death and dying but also gun issues in the country. I really liked the story and thought the illustrations really made this book so charming. I really enjoyed the main character and felt that the end of the book was a tad rushed, but hope that we might get a book two set in this world because it really left it open for that. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed this magical book that was mostly set in the real world with a fun magical element. This book also had a super fast pace lot and I really liked how this book handled topics like death and dying but also gun issues in the country. I really liked the story and thought the illustrations really made this book so charming. I really enjoyed the main character and felt that the end of the book was a tad rushed, but hope that we might get a book two set in this world because it really left it open for that. ( )

My 10 yr old son got this in one of this OwlCrate Jr and refused to read it because it looked too childish. This does end up looking like more of a kids book than a book aimed at middle grade readers. The print is very large and there are pictures throughout. I however don’t mind larger print :-) so I went ahead and read the book. This ends up being a cute and touching story about a boy who is dealing with his gma’s decline when he stumbles across something amazing in the barn that a veterinarian has purchased from his gma.

I really enjoyed the idea of a veterinarian that takes care of mythical beasts in her small town barn. I loved how Eric finds his place in life by helping to care for these amazing creatures. This is a deliberately paced story that has a very simple plot and simple language but it’s a good book for what it is.

Much of the story is focused around Eric’s family dynamics. The whole family is struggling with the decline of Eric’s gma. Eric’a gma held the family together after Eric’s mother left (for somewhat ambiguous reasons). Now it’s Eric, his teenage brother, and his dad holding things together. None of these guys are very emotionally demonstrative and Eric is struggling with how to move on now that his gma isn’t there but is in a nursing home struggling with her health.

When Eric starts spending a lot of time with the neighboring vet and her daughter, Allegra, the two families end up helping to support each other.

The drawings throughout are really well done and I enjoyed them as well.

Overall this was a cute story, that is touching and heartfelt. I enjoyed it. However I do agree with my son, this is definitely intended for a younger audience. Although the main character in the book is 11 years old, the story is very simple both in the language structure used and the plot developed. I would recommend for younger middle grade readers or even younger children. ( )

Read my interview with the author and my full review @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2017/09/19/the-unicorn-in-the-barn-by-jacquelin-...

Have you ever seen a Unicorn? Eric has, and now his life may be changed forever.

Eric’s grandmother isn’t well and has been put into a nursing home. Her house is now being occupied by someone new, a girl named Allegra, and her mother, a veterinarian. One day, Eric stumbles upon Allegra pounding in a “No Trespassing” sign on the tree where his treehouse resides: his favorite place to be. They don’t seem to like each other, but Eric doesn’t know yet that Allegra may not be as awful as she seems.

As Eric spends more time around the woods and farmhouse, he begins to discover magical creatures, including a white and glowing animal he first thinks is a pony. Soon, he realizes this beautiful pony-like animal is a unicorn: the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. He soon observes that she’s living in the old barn near the farmhouse which has been converted into a vet practice by Allegra’s mother. The unicorn was meant to remain a secret, but Eric is inquisitive and must find out everything he can about this magnificent creature.

We absolutely loved all the magical creatures in the book, especially Moonpearl, the majestic unicorn. The talking animals reminded us of another favorite children’s story-Charlotte’s Web. The human characters are memorable and even though it’s an imaginary story, it felt real. The relationship between Eric and his grandmother is heartwarming and we admired how Eric and Allegra’s friendship developed over time.

There were a few events in the book that we needed to stop and discuss that dealt with loss and mourning and not everything unfolded the way we wanted it to. Overall, this story was beautiful and something I would’ve loved reading as a child. We fell in love with all of the illustrations and found ourselves wanting more. My kids did enjoy it and I’m happy to have it as part of our home library.

My rating on this book is 5*****

Age Range: 10 - 12 years
Grade Level: 5 - 7
Hardcover: 304 pagesPublisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (July 4, 2017)
ISBN-10: 054476112X
ISBN-13: 978-0544761124 ( )