My Gentle Barn

Creating a Sanctuary Where Animals Heal and Children Learn to Hope

By: Ellie Laks

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Founder Ellie Laks started The Gentle Barn after adopting a sick goat from a run-down petting zoo in 1999. Some 200 animals later (including chickens, horses, pigs, cows, rabbits, emus, and more), The Gentle Barn has become an extraordinary nonprofit that brings together a volunteer staff of community members and at-risk teens to rehabilitate abandoned and/or abused animals. As Ellie teaches the volunteers to care for the animals, they learn a new language of healing that works wonders on the humans as well.

My Gentle Barn weaves together the story of how the Barn came to be what it is today with Ellie's own journey. Filled with heartwarming animal stories and inspiring recoveries, My Gentle Barn is a feel-good account that will delight animal lovers and memoir listeners alike.

©2014 Ellie Laks (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

" My Gentle Barn is a wonderful book. You'll love Ellie Laks and the animals she rescued - and who rescued her back." (Sy Montgomery, The Good Good Pig)

Amazing!!

Incredible book of determination and compassion. I enjoyed My Gentle Barn very much! Highly recommend

Loved it!

Great book! Such an amazing woman that followed her dream and created a wonderful organization!

Such a great inspiring book

Ellie and Jay are so inspirational and amazing. There is hope for the world because of people like them. You’ll love this book!

My heart feels warm and hopeful

I finished the book in four days. Normally only listen to book while I run, found myself listening to this book all the time. Ellie Laks is my hero, what a warrior. Thank you Ellie for what you do. The book was funnie. Sad. But more than that, left me hopeful.

This book has changed my diet!

Laks’ story is heartfelt and at times heartbreaking. I cried in several places. The narrator, Hillary Huber, gives the story warmth and grace, her golden voice leading me gently through the tough spots. I’m a beginner at being a vegetarian. My goal now is a vegan diet. Thanks, ladies. Can’t wait to visit The Gentle Barn.

I'm now a vegetarian

Any additional comments?

I listened to this book faithfully each morning, and often had difficulty pulling myself away. I found myself relating to the author, who was taught from a young age that her interests and goals were silly and impractical. Yet, she persevered and allowed the universe her to assist her, as she determinedly nursed injured animals and created a sanctuary for them. That she motivated herself and worked past her discouragements, I found inspiring. The author's stories of neglected and abused farm animals, and tales of rescued veal calves, ultimately led me to become a vegetarian -- and to limit my consumption of milk products (since it's dairy cows that ultimately produce veal calves). The author was successful where others had not been -- she convinced me to act upon my feelings.

Lifechanging

The love Ellie feels, one can feel it with the narration. This is very stimulating and motivating for readers who plan on following on her footsteps. Beautiful book, beautiful narration. I cried and laughed with her all along.

Highly recommend

I enjoyed reading the story of Ellie and Gentle Barn. So much to relate to🥹I hope I can meet Ellie in person one day💚

Gratitude

I feel blessed to have listened to this book. I believe that it has become my all time favorite read.

I felt shivers as I listened to Ellie describe her spiritual promptings as she made important decisions and went through what appeared to be insurmountable circumstances.

A higher power definitely was looking out for his beloved animals as Ellie and Jay devoted their lives to the healing and nurturing of his creations.

I have ordered a hard copy of the book and look forward to reading some of the sections which truly touched me. I will also show it to my friends and encourage them to read it.

I hope there will be more books to follow with the incredible stories of humans and animals giving love, strength and support to each other.

The narration was awesome!

Janet Angell

This book will raise your awareness and compassion

I loved everything about this book. It is compelling, intelligent, compassionate and loving. the story changed me, and it is a beautiful voice to help you raise your awareness and compassion for all living beings.