Kindred Souls

With the sure touch she brought to the beloved Newbery Medal winner Sarah, Plain and Tall, in Kindred Souls Patricia MacLachlan guides children into the understanding that death is a natural part of life.

Ten-year-old Jake has always been close to his grandfather Billy—so close that Jake’s mother calls them kindred souls. Each morning, Jake and Billy take a walk around the family farm. Billy often tells Jake stories of living in a sod house on the prairie.

When Billy goes into the hospital, Jake decides the best gift he can give his beloved grandfather is a sod house. Billy moves to the sod house when he leaves the hospital and spends his last days living there.

How do you say goodbye to someone you can’t imagine living without?

• A Special Bond: Ten-year-old Jake and his grandfather Billy are more than family—they’re kindred souls who share daily walks, stories, and a connection that will last forever.
• Family Farm Life: From the quiet rhythm of morning chores to Billy’s tales of growing up on the prairie, this story is filled with the warmth and love of a close-knit family.
• A Gift of Love: To bring his grandfather comfort, Jake takes on an impossible project—building a real sod house, brick by brick, as a final, beautiful gesture.
• A Gentle Story About Grief: Crafted with care by a Newbery Medal-winning author, this book provides a safe and poignant space for children and families to explore the feelings of love and loss.