The Christmas Barn

by C.L. Davis

In 1930, when a snowstorm destroys their home in the Appalachian mountains twelve-year-old Roxie and her family move into the barn and prepare for a very unusual Christmas celebration.

Genres: Christmas, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Family, Childrens

189 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2001

Reviews

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was fine, but the author had too many runnin', fixin', sweepin', cryin', shovelin', mornin', thinkin', movin' - on and on ad infinitum - sometimes as many as five words like this in one paragraph. It drove me crazy and was very distractin' to the story.

[RSter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember how old I was when I first got The Christmas Barn as a present, but I do know I consider it a classic. Every year I revisit the Dockery family and every year I enjoy their story. The Christmas Barn is the perfect Christmas gift for your child, niece or cousin. Any young girl will enjoy this coming-of-age story with its short, vignette-like chapters. It’s a quick, cute read she (whoever she may be) will enjoy year after year.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Slow moving, simple story that my kids enjoyed.

[Emily Cottle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, simple Christmas story about a family during the Great Depression who have to move into the barn after their home is destroyed. Fans of Little House and American Girl will enjoy it. It's not the most riveting of stories, but it's sweet and Christmas-y and full of family values and country livin'.

[Jasmine H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it is wonderful. This book is perfect for 5th graders that live on a farm. If you like American girl books you will like this book. A girl named Roxie was at her house and then it snowed so she had to make a path. A tree fell on their house so they had to move in to their barn.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a kind of cute and pleasant read, reminiscent of the Little House on the Prairie books.

[Katilipops · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. Sweet little Christmas story but not that memorable or engaging. The pictures of the family it was inspired by was the best part.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Barn by C. L. Davis
Good story about the Appalachian family and how they are able to survive and be strong.
The kids talk of their struggles with fetching the water and the youngest is afraid of the panthers. One year when the dad was away the mom shot through the roof at one and got it.
She left it there for him to clean up when he returned. He never worries about leaving her home alone now.
Reminds me of island life where you walked a mile one way to get the mail and the water you had to get from the bottom of the hill, you had to carry full buckets UP the hill then.
Such a simple easier life and now it's so complicated with technology.
Love hearing of the Sears catalog. Can't imagine one from 1930!
Dreams during Christmas. They leave by the window cuz snow covered the whole door...
Community tree, just like on the island and a card for all to sign at the post office.
Tree falls on the house and they end up in the barn while baby John recuperates from his broken arm...
Love how the dad makes the cast, so cool to use things around the place.
So much more happens that make them stronger. Such heartache but rich lives.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Don Elarton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a book for girls. It's a wonderful Christmas Story that I read every year, two or three weeks before Christmas. Although written by a man, it uses the voice of the family's twelve year old girl to tell the story of a poor Appalachian mountain family during the Great Depression of the 1930's.
It's a real story about real people who are the author's own relatives. Other's have described the plot and charachters. I find it interesting that this seems to be the only book the author has written, that I've been unable to find any further information about him on the internet, and that I've been unable to verify the small about of information about him included on the back jacket flap. It seem strange to find an author who doesn't exist on the internet. If anyone knows more about him, please post it here. I highly recommend this great Christmas story by a very talented writer.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit it: I’m a sucker for well-written books about happy families. That’s probably why a trusted friend recommended this wonderful story.

The annotation in the catalog of the National Library Service for the Print Disabled reads:

In 1930, when a snowstorm destroys their home in the Appalachian Mountains, twelve-year-old Roxie and her family move into the barn and prepare for a very unusual Christmas celebration. For grades 4-7.

The people you will meet in this book are by no means cookie cutter characters; I came to know and care deeply about each of them. The love they have for each other is what gets them through. (They will draw upon That love for the rest of their lives when hard times come their way.)

Forget about the intended audience: you owe it to yourself to make it a part of your holiday reading.

[Bonnie_Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute. I remember reading this book over and over over again when I was much younger. Out of the blue I thought to read it again and I am glad I did. It is a highly idealized, glossed over Christmas story set during the Depression deep in the Appalachian mountains, but it is heartwarming and cozy.

I saw some reviews pointin' out the distractin' spellin' and grammar every which way but I think it was the author's too strong voice coming through, trying to get that type of speakin' and accent in people's heads. It did not bother me, but I can see how that would irritate some people.

But I do have a bone to pick with the cover. Why is this young girl depicted trudging through the snow, carrying a water bucket, WITH BARE HANDS!?!?! No hat? Come on now, she would be freezing so fast!

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sweet Christmas story takes place during the depression in the Appalachian Mountains. A tree falls on the family cabin and they must move into their barn. We get a glimpse of life from a much simpler time and see the ways the family members care for one another. They are poor--the depression doesn't affect them because they were poor to begin with; they live off what they can grow and raise themselves. We see the real spirit of love as they try to make gifts for each other. The story is based on the author's family and includes some pictures of the real characters.

[Bobi Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old fashioned, great Christmas story!! A little corny but sweet!! 1930’s, Appalachian Mountains, Ma and Papa, the whole family workin’ hard together to make the most of what they had. Fetchin’ pails of water, mendin’ clothes, gardening, cannin’, repairin’ and makin’ the barn their new home, stick candy, milkin’ cows and feedin’ mules, homemade from the heart Christmas gifts.
Survivin’ and Thrivin’ 🎄❤️
Reminded me of Little House on the Praire books. And it was a quick 2 hour read. I love short stories! ❤️🎅🏻🎄

[Renée Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to stumble upon this gem of a Christmas book at the library! It’s a great read aloud and is so funny! It provides a good snapshot of the time, ingenuity, grit and lifestyle of mountain folk in the 1930’s. It’s perfect for giving some perspective on just how easy our modern lives are. I also really love how it is based on the true stories of the author’s own family! It’ll become a yearly Christmas traditions for sure!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cover and a nice, small-size book that fits in your hand. Not riveting, but pleasant reading. Yes, the story might have been better told, but if viewed as recollections it is fine. Photos of the real family at the end were nice.

[Jennifer Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with my 12 year old; the main character is a 12 year old girl. Sweet story of a large and loving family’s Christmas during the Great Depression. This story had “Little House” vibes—hard work, making do, appreciating each other, creativity in the face of adversity.

[Staceyj · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet Christmas story for young and old.

[Anastasia Tuckness · Rating 4 out of 5]

A large family lives in a small house in the mountains and deals with the everyday trials and the fairly large disasters that they encounter. I enjoyed this sweet story about country life!

[Linda]

I enjoyed this book very much. Having visited that area a few years ago really made it possible for me to visualize the story.

[Jamie’s Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Appalachian Christmas tale that very much reminds me of the Little House books.

[Kimberly DuBois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of a mountain Christmas in the “olden days”.

[Julianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of reading half of a book before there’s even a hint of a plot.

[Cinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple Appalachian tale. I enjoyed the simplicity and warmth of this Christmas story, which reminded me of the Waltons.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books to get in the Christmas spirit

[Riley Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was very entertaining!

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little Christmas book for kids.The story takes place during the depression, although this family didn't know the difference because they were poor beforehand. It's a heartwarming little story of the importance of family and working together. It'd be a good little read aloud book for a class or a family.

[Hadiqa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like a Christmas Classic novel. The story took place in 1930 (depression era). As the Brass family wait for the Christmas, they lost their house and came a BIG winter storm. The story gives a lesson of staying together in hard times and cheer One another in the times of trouble. In the story you'll find a lot of happiness and kindness going in the Brass family that you rarely see today.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the Depression in Appalachia, a family's house burns down just before Christmas, so they're forced to move into the barn. A real tearjerker as they manage to have a wonderful Christmas in spite of their tragedy.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book around Christmas last year, and I really enjoyed it. At first I thought it was a little . . . young, but I got more into it as I read. It takes place in the 20s, but they live in the mountains so they live like pioneers. It's a really sweet story, I REALLY liked the ending!

[Sierra Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book that wasn't hard to get into at all! i ecspecially enjoyed the end, although the begginging wasn't all that exiting, but enough to keep me reading all night!!(: good job !