Readers Favorite - The Barn Light

Reader's Favorite

Book Review Mini-Critique

Below you will ﬁnd ratings (scale of 1-5) with descriptions for the major parts of your book followed by your Readers' Favorite review. Although these are general ratings we hope they will give you an insight into how others may view the diﬀerent components of your book.
These are the opinions of your reviewer, and although your reviewer is not an expert literary critic or professional editor, they are at the very least, an avid reader of books just like yours.

Title: The Barn Light

Subtitle: A Questful Tale

Author: Catherine Green

Genre: Children - Adventure

Appearance 5	The appearance of a book can make a signiﬁcant impact on the experience of a reader, whose enjoyment is often enhanced by an enticing cover, an intriguing table of contents, interesting chapter headings, and when possible, eye-catching illustrations.
Plot 5	The characters of a book should be well deﬁned with strengths and ﬂaws, and while they do not have to be likable, the reader does have to be able to form a connection with them. The tone should be consistent, the theme should be clear, and the plot should be original or told from a unique perspective. For informative books --those without plot and characters--this rating refers primarily to your concept and how well you presented it.
Development 5	Development refers to how eﬀectively you told your story or discussed your topic. The dialogue should be realistic, the descriptions should be vivid, and the material should be concise and coherent. Organization is also a key factor, especially for informative books -- those without plot and characters. The order in which you tell your story or explain your topic and how smoothly it ﬂows can have a huge impact on the reader's understanding and enjoyment of the material.
Formatting 5	Formatting is the single most overlooked area by authors. The way in which you describe scenes, display dialogue, and shift point of view can make or break your story. In addition, excessive grammatical errors and typos can give your book an amateurish feel and even put oﬀ readers completely.
Marketability 5	Marketability refers to how eﬀectively you wrote your book for your target audience. Authors may include content that is above or below the understanding of their target reader, or include concepts, opinions or language that can accidentally confuse or alienate some readers. Although by its nature this rating is very subjective, a very low rating here and poor reviews may indicate an issue with your book in this area.
Overall Opinion 5	The overall starred rating takes into account all these elements and describes the overall reading experience of your reviewer. This is the oﬃcial Readers' Favorite review rating for your book.
Review:	Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite Our special pets leave a mark on our hearts. We love them dearly when they’re with us, but when they pass to the other side, we’re very sad. Where do they go? Have you wondered? Are you worried?What if you found a special place where all your beloved pets went after they passed away? What if you could visit this place whenever you wanted, to reassure yourself that your pets are well cared for?To ensure they haven’t forgotten you? That’s what Nate and Claire discover in an old abandoned barn: a pet sanctuary. An oasis tended with love and care by someone they thought was mean and spiteful but really was just a lonely old man. A hike in the woods at winter’s end becomes an enchanted look at what lies beyond for two siblings, Nate and Claire. Catherine Green’s picture book story, The Barn Light: A Questful Tale, is a tender look at fantastical possibilities to explain to young children what happens to their beloved pets when they die. The story is written in simple language to appeal to an early reader and the vibrant illustrations are a bonus in helping move the story along. The author has woven an enchanting tale that reminds one of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s popular children’s story, The Secret Garden. You just never know what magic and beauty you might unveil in a special garden or even in an old abandoned barn. First impressions can be deceiving as the siblings discover when they walk into the old barn and ﬁnd a paradise of animals who have passed over and a man they believed to be scary greets them with kindness and compassion. A wonderful ‘questful’ story to warm the hearts.