Sarah, Plain and Tall

Book Title: Sarah, Plain and Tall

Author: Patricia MacLachlan

Publisher: HarperCollins

Copyright Date: 1985

Genre: Historical Fiction

Brief Annotation: Life seems pretty content for Jacob, a father, and his two young children, Anna and Caleb. Life is content, but there is no more singing. The singing left when Anna and Caleb’s mother died just one day after giving birth to Caleb. Life is content, but there is an underlying sadness – something is missing. So Jacob submits an ad for a wife. Sarah, who describes herself as “plain and tall,” answers the ad. She decides to travel from her life in Maine, where the sea has been a constant love in her life, and visit this family who lives on the open plains. There is excitement, anticipation, and hope as Jacob, Anna and Caleb await Sarah’s visit. Is the house big enough? Will she miss the sea too much? Will she love them? Will she leave? And most important of all… does she sing?

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – This book was such a surprising, heart-warming, joy to read. From the first few pages, the reader immediately begins to “feel” the characters – understand them, care about them, and want the best for them. Like so many great writers, MacLachlan is not frivolous with her words. I love that feeling when a line kind of stops you in your tracks and makes your heart fill. MacLachlan did that twice for me only 13 pages into the story. “Ask her if she sings, I said” and “Tell them I sing was all it said” – two little lines, perfectly said and perfectly placed. I look forward to continuing the series – I’ve requested the second two books from the library on audio.

Readers who will like this book: Young girls age 8-11, who like a more realistic character-driven story, will enjoy this book. It makes me think of “Little House on the Prairie.” Children who have had a parent die (or leave) may be interested in this story – although it may be a different time period, it shows how these two children react to the possibility of having a new mom. Their reaction wasn’t what I was expecting – I wonder if other readers have had a similar response.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: The title of this book is Sarah, Plain and Tall – what do you think this book could be about? What does it mean to be “plain”?

Interest Level (age): 8-11

Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 4.2

List awards: Newbery Medal Winner, Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children

Misc: TV movies for this series were released in the early 1990s; Glenn Close played “Sarah” & Christopher Walken played “Jacob” – interesting, this is not quite how I pictured either of these characters.